Junglybungly's Xanga

Blessed...

Tue, 04 Sep 2007 01:12:47 GMT

"um...yeah...*sigh*...wow God...(smile) uhhh...how do I explain...what words can I use...errr...well, I'm glad you are omniscent and you know my heart and how thankful I am, God!" -excerpt from a confession/convo I had/have w/ God...especially as of late-

True grace is powerful, and it is deliberate (2 Cor. 12:9). It is most definitely a gift from God that, in turn, glorifies Him. Christ is full of grace. Our Heavenly Father was the first to have it, and He is the very essence of it. Through the Holy Spirit, grace actively lives in us, and we honor God and others by choosing to exercise it in many ways. Wisdom and discernment are hallmarks of God’s grace. Exercising all the qualities of grace with a pure heart brings life to us and to others (Prov. 3:21-22, 45:2). Through a pure heart and gracious speech, we will even keep company with kings (Prov. 22:11)

Labor Day: A gracious brother wanted to express his gratitude to God by serving His ppl by cookin up a delicious bbq and coordinating a fun picnic at the lake! I rode a waverunner for the 1st time and dood-it was sooo exhilaring! I can still feel the waves...yay-yuhhh =)

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 22:04:21 GMT

it's been raining like cats and dogs this week! I forgot my umbrella, which was a bummer, but I saw something unusual + cute that uplifted my spirits.

With flip flops on, jeans rolled up, and head ducked low under my hoodie, I made a dash to my car with the intention of trying to not get too wet. Silly me-definitely a failed attempt, but I looked up at one point and saw some students swishing their feet around in the water with arms wide open, heads lifted up, and smiling/laughing while getting soaked. Not that getting drenched is cute, but something about their free-spirited, child-like, and joyful demeanor got me thinkin...

God pours out His lavish love, grace, and mercy on us everyday. Instead of taking our heavenly Father for granted, I hope believers will enjoy His presence, become saturated in the Word and live in such a way that it makes people stop in their steps, look up and think, "Wow...what kind of freedom and joy do these people have...in such a muddy, dreary world?"

After watching them for a few seconds, I walked through a few puddles purposefully, felt the rain splatter on my face, got totally wet...and it felt good! hahah crazzzy

anyway, I think when others see people who genuinely love the Lord and are living for Him, they'll want to immerse themselves in Christ and "get wet" too...

Thursday, May 10, 2007

Thu, 10 May 2007 10:47:21 GMT

oyyy I really don't like having car trouble. A few weeks ago, someone hit my rearview mirror and ran off Yesterday, the starter didn't work so I had to get my car towed to Pepboys to get work done on it. It's such a hassle having inconveniences, but the verse in 1 Thess 5 that says to give thanks in ALL circumstances is hittin me hard. since I'm waiting around for Pepboys to call, I don't have to go into lab today tehe

This past weekend was a blast cause our to small group met together for one last time to have a girls sleepover heheh =) Call me biased, but I really do think God blessed me with the most beautiful bunch of sisters

flashback: so in the fall, I went to the ER for the first time cause I had a severe acute allergic reaction to cashews, which I'm still SO confused about cause I grew up eating them all the time. Anyhow, after shooting me up with 2 shots of epinephrine and giving me antihistamine pills, the doc prescribed me an epi-pen to carry around with me in case of an emergency. What emergency, right? For our small group dinner, we went to the Cheesecake Factory and I ate their oh-so-delicious Thai lettuce wraps. Whadda ya know...I had a minor incident where I once again swelled up and had minor hives, but thankfully, it wasn't anything too serious i.e. no shortness of breath=trachea was A-ok. It was funny cause we checked the menu later and it straight up said "tamarind-cashew" sauce...oh nuts.

I thought it was cute that Jinlee got a to-go menu and put a big box and NO! next to everything with cashews as an ingredient and gave it to me =)

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Tue, 12 Dec 2006 01:58:32 GMT

Heart to heart small group: I cannot praise God enough for these girls, who have been a bundle of joy this semester! I was/am convicted to take care of and feed God's sheep, but I didn't expect the exceeding amount of blessings that God has poured out through this group. God is surely good, faithful, and sooo loving and wants to teach us His Truth, which He has been, so really, ALL praise and glory to our amazingly awesome Father. When I see/speak with/pray for specific individuals, I see how God is so unique in His creation and can and will use His people to reveal attributes of Himself-it's so beautiful. Gesh louise-praise God! My heart swells up inside with much gratitude when I think of them =)

Furthermore, praise God for listening to us and answering prayers like...no other. If any of you doubt, please, I beg you, don't limit what God can do. He does things in ways you may not expect, but in the end, His timing and plans are impeccable. His ways and thoughts are beyond comprehension...blows me away...leaves me speechless...so I conclude this entry with ... glory to God...frealll.

*Harry-you are a true brother in Christ and it's been a JOY knowing you for the past 4.5 years. I know we'll see you in a semester, but you will be sorely missed by many while you're in Russia. We're praying for you! I cherish ALL the memories we have together, from serious ones to frikkin hilarious moments! =) take care, chowchow~

Monday, October 23, 2006

Mon, 23 Oct 2006 15:53:33 GMT

one of my constant prayers is for God to be glorified in ALL circumstances. let's just say that He has been holding up to that commitment and my faith and trust in God has been tested like no other these past few weeks. However, thank the Lord for testing us cause I can honestly say that God is so real to me and I'm beginning to understand what desperation means.

in the midst of having a burdensome and heavy/worried heart, God has truly encouraged me with so many brothers and sisters who prayed with me and really "stepped up their love." Whenever I read Scripture, there are verses that speak directly to my heart. It's funny cause I "know" His Word is true, but I stray away from His promises so easily and yet, I know He still has me firmly in His hands. This past wkend, I heard a sermon about how we are called to carry our cross. No matter how heavy/hard it may be, the image of Christ bearing the cross for us shook me up-We need to be reminded of the sufferring He went through so we can come to God freely. It's comforting to know that Christ won't necessarily take away problems, etc, but He'll carry US when we depend on Him. mmm...I'm a little speechless...

anyhow, I def wanna praise God for His help and drawing us a step closer to Him. Even though there are times I just wanna complain/quit/yadayada, God doesn't get any glory in that kind of attitude/heart/life.

my sweet roomie wrote these verses for me and it's so applicable. James 1:2-3, 6, 12--> Consider it pure JOY, whenever you face trials of many kinds, b/c you know that the testing of your FAITH develops perseverance...When he asks, he must BELIEVE and NOT DOUBT, b/c he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, b/c when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has PROMISED to those who LOVE him.

May God get ALL the glory He deserves.

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

Tue, 03 Oct 2006 00:12:13 GMT

factoid: i love to eat! really, i love food =)

however, I had my first allergic reaction to...*drum roll*... food today. After eating a substantial lunch filled with bread, veggies, ham, fruit, hummus, nuts and Harry's awesome carrot cake, I decided to finish up my essay, but lo and behold, my body didn't feel "right." I decided to lay down for half an hour and when I got up, my face swelled up like a balloon, my body broke out in hives, my throat was super inflammed and my entire upper body itched like crazy and turned red! This struck me as odd cause I ate food I normally can eat so I'm still curious what triggered this reaction. Plus, it's difficult to pinpoint what caused this since I ate various foods Thankfully, Junebug came to the rescue and she rushed to her drug dealer (CVS: she's a soon-to-be pharmacist!) and got me some goodies. whew~

anyhow, lately-my heart has been anxious/worried about the future and all that jazz, but all in all, I must testify that God is so good. I hope we can all FULLY trust in Him b/c well...He is trustworthy and faithful. I wish I could share the details, but simply put, God leaves me speechless by the way He works. really...praise God.

update of a few pics

Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Tue, 08 Aug 2006 23:34:39 GMT

as of today-after many years of waiting, I am no longer a permanent resident ALIEN. I am a U.S. CITIZEN! woohoo~

I wish I could further explain, but today, I couldn't help, but be reminded of the verse in Philippians that states, "...but our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ..."

I was asked to update on what's goin on so here goes: it hasn't been too fun studying and what not, but I must say, this summer has been encouraging and full of unexpected surprises. all in all, I have to testify that God is good and I'm grateful that He's slowly, but surely helping me to abide in Him. also, I'm grateful for new and special relationships and sisters who I feel that I've grown close to. Sure hope y'all know who you are...I thank God every time I remember y'all that's all for now~

Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Tue, 27 Jun 2006 17:29:35 GMT

i'm learning to get back to the basics/roots of what it means to live for Christ this summer.

a few verses worth meditating on:

Matt 6:33 Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well

John 14:23 if anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. John 15:1-17

Rom 12:1-2, 1 Cor 13: 1-7, Phil 2: 1-11 and 4:6-9, Col 3:1-2, 12-14, 4:2

Colossians 2: 2 my purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ

be strong and take heart, all you who HOPE IN the Lord.

few pics from Jenny and Chuckie's wedding Congrats, you two =)

bridesmaids

peek-a-boo!

i'd upload more pics but I still use dial up at home and it's taking such a long time so tata for now~

Saturday, April 01, 2006

Sat, 01 Apr 2006 00:03:28 GMT

a friend sent me a link to a website that described Mother Theresa's life and impact on this world. Honestly, I don't know much about her, except that she was a nun, helped the poor/needy/sick, a peace advocator and all that jazz, but man, reading her words/quotes touched me so much and to read comments by other ppl who knew her personally made it evident that she was sold out for Jesus. what a blessing to see someone pour out everything she has for Christ's sake. seems like she had a good grasp of what salvation, grace, and love meant, to say the least...

"There is a terrible hunger for love. We all experience that in our lives - the pain, the loneliness. We must have the courage to recognize it. The poor you may have right in your own family. Find them. Love them.

Give yourself fully to God. He will use you to accomplish great things on the condition that you believe much more in His love than in your own weakness.

Speak tenderly to them. Let there be kindness in your face, in your eyes, in your smile, in the warmth of your greeting. Always have a cheerful smile. Don't only give your care, but give your heart as well.

I pray that you will understand the words of Jesus, ¡°Love one another as I have loved you.¡± Ask yourself ¡°How has he loved me? Do I really love others in the same way?¡± Unless this love is among us, we can kill ourselves with work and it will only be work, not love. Work without love is slavery.

A sacrifice to be real must cost, must hurt, must empty ourselves. The fruit of silence is prayer, the fruit of prayer is faith, the fruit of faith is love, the fruit of love is service, the fruit of service is peace."

so far, this semester has been rough in many aspects, but u know, God keeps reassuring me that He'll get me through the day if I lean on Him. I feel like I've been in this "oh-poor me-have pity on me-I'm going through a hard time-me me me" mentality and it's...messed up how easily I can get entangled in my own little world. If there's something that God keeps pounding in my heart no matter how much I don't want to think about it, it's that this world is SO much bigger than my petty problems and I've got to look beyond myself and sincerely love God and His people. it's amazing to me that mother Theresa really did this...her life reflected the fruits of the Spirit and the characteristics of love as described in 1 Cor 13. then again, God's power to transform our hearts is pretty freaking amazing...

Lord-forgive me. help me and your people to live out your will, God...

Sunday, January 29, 2006

Sun, 29 Jan 2006 03:23:39 GMT

GRATITUDE

...so...um...yeah...

I don't really know where to begin, but just wanted to say THANK YOU SOOO MUCH to everyone...

God has been so gracious and He has used many people to ENCOURAGE and challenge me. it'd take too long to name specific ppl on this entry, but I hope y'all know who you are...and that y'all hold a special place in my heart. I was very touched-thanks guysss.

one of the best advices I've heard is to seek to be a blessing to others-by His grace. I know that I have a long ways to grow + learn and I struggle daily with this heart of mine, but my prayer is that Christ-His love-will be seen in me-for His glory. My prayer for all you people is that you will know this love as well.

I wish I could say more, but...let's just leave it at that. OH-by the way, if you want some DELICIOUS desserts, just come on ova to the VIP (actually, please call first)

...while supplies last...thank you. come again.