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| What an Awesome God.
It's been a while since I've last written in here.
It's about time to write again.
God has been answering so many prayers,
and I can't help but ask myself these questions.
How is our God so perfect?
How can God answer so many prayers?
Not even mine, but to ALL His children?
How is God so just and so compassionate to His children?
While doing devotions this week,
God has slowly revealed to me just how Awesome of a God He is.
Not awesome as in, "dude you're so awesome",
but 'awesome' in it's definition: Inspiring awe.
Lord, I have recently just been thinking so much about you.
Just how your plan has been slowly revealed to all of us.
How everything that happens has a purpose --
that Your grace abundantly abounds in each and every one of us.
That Lord, we should not continually ask ask ask in favor for us,
but that we may ask in favor of your glory.
That you may be glorified through us, your children.
I have slowly realized how man and flesh cannot be sufficient,
it never can be,
for all men have flaws -- I am completely covered with flaws myself,
and Lord, I just pray for more humbleness before You & before others.
But by not being so dependent on people, Lord,
I have learned to truly cling onto Christ during this time.
I have a lot to learn about you, Lord.
I'm so weak, and I pray for your strength to guide me during this time.
That I may continue to place my full-centered focus on Christ.
& that my love for You may grow more everyday.
"But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,
he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness,
but according to his own mercy, by washing of regerenation and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."
--Titus 3 : 4-7
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| I want to Praise the Lord, for all He is.
Thank you Father. For everything you have shown me.
For you have set me apart from them.
You've filled my heart that has been missing.
With a love that cannot be filled by anything in this world.
God, I find an urgency to praise You,
for who You are.
You've found ways to keep me accountable.
To fix my eyes on your Son, Jesus Christ.
And provided me with all I need.
Thank you for testing my faith, Father.
Thank you for trials.
Thank you for making my life more challenging,
because that's the only way I'll become more disciplined.
Because that's the only way you'll become more revealed to me.
Thank you for creating abundant struggles in my life,
for I have become more aware and conscious,
of my actions, of my tongue, of my attitude.
I know I am weak, Father. And I acknowledge that.
But Father, don't lift up ANY of these struggles.
I pray for more trials, more challenges in life,
because I know you won't give me more than I can't handle.
But Father, I want to thank you especially for the accountability
that you have blessed me with.
Thank you for my sisters in Christ,
who have rebuked me, who have challenged me to be better,
who have kept me strong and who have constantly brought me back to You.
I had an interesting conversation today with one of my sisters.
"The difference between an athiest and a Christian is, life as an athiest is easy."
And it made me realize how easy it is for us to rely on things in this world,
by our own will, by other people in this world,
but that's not how God sees it.
Thank God for guiding me to the Light.
But ultimately, thank You for your son, Jesus Christ.
I pray that the Gospel will amaze me today, tomorrow and everyday of my life.
Thank you again, Father, for everything.
May I find contentment in every aspect in my life,
for You are sovereign. :]
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| SUMMER '08, so far.
This summer has been pretty crazy. (good crazy, haha)
My family and I, along with a few other relatives drove all the way to Ontario, Canada.
6 days there involved visits to Yellowstone and Mt. Rushmore.
Also 13 states; California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Idaho,
Wyoming, South Dakota, Montana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan.
It also involved only 1 night at a motel, 4 nights in a minivan, mosquito bites and humidity.
But we made it! And it was so nice to see my aunts, uncles and cousins again!
Hung out with my cousins Carol and Vivian a lot more.
Bought postcards and sent one to Kevin cause he couldn't make it.
Went to the CN Tower in Toronto and Niagara Falls.
Attended the wedding of my cousin CaVinh and his newlywed wife, Kou. :]
Discovered Vanilla Rice Krispies, Bubble Tea, LAYS KETCHUP CHIPS <3.
Then the cousins went to Canada's Wonderland! [which is like a Six Flags]
On the drive back, we stopped by my other cousin's house in Pennsylvania.
Took 3 days to drive back, with one stop at the Gateway Arch!
Their trolley thing to the top of the arch was like a ferris wheel contraption. :p
12 states back; New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois,
Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Nevada & California.
No showers for those 2-3 nights, with humid nights.
But overall, a VERY great trip. Very enjoyable and just family bonding time.
But now that I'm back in SD.
I have a dental internship. And it's been decent.
Just a lot of paperwork stuff.
And occasionally, I get to go back and play with the suction tube.
Trying to suck the saliva and water from the patient's mouth.
Tons of fun, oh yes. :p
GOT MY LICENSE! woohoo!
hehe i can officially drive.
and thank God, I do have a car for next year. :]
just awaiting for it, and for insurance.
Summer Session II begins in a few weeks,
and i'm excited and kinda sad about going.
i haven't hung out with everyone i've wanted to yet.
and being busy at the internship doesn't help too much.
but hopefully i'll see everyone in time!
ROCK BAND seshes have been so awesome.
ap stats = <3. hehehe.
we have become the 'STDDEV???????'
although there may be a hidden meaning behind the name.
one hit wonder = ballroom blitz.
chris = lead singer. hahaha!
Matt, Chris, Connie, Lisa, Fang, and Kevin (MIA).
we awesome. hahaha!
And being able to talk to my Sisters in Christ,
have helped me stay accountable.
So grateful for that, God. :] Thank you.
Thank you for this summer break. :D
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| Unbelievable Journey.
This quarter was amazing.
This YEAR was amazing.
I'll start by summarizing this quarter.
It definitely had its ups and downs.
Beginning of the quarter,
I believe that God truly put my faith to the test.
With the trial between my parents and I,
words cannot begin to explain just how much I've grown from that experience.
Endure ANY pain because of His everlasting love for me.
Because my pain cannot surmount to the pain Jesus bore on the cross for me.
"I'll let you go to church".
I never thought of it as a privilege, have you?
It's weird how in today's society,
we have SO much freedom.
Yet when we are tied down and restricted,
that is when we realize what we have and don't have.
When my mom told me that she was letting me go to church,
I was ecstatic. But there was a "but".
and that "but" was, "you have to do well in school".
That's where it began to conflict.
That's where I began to struggle with my faith.
and I learned this quarter that people don't fall away in one day.
but it becomes a gradual process.
With the mindset that I "have" to do well in school in order to go to church,
I started becoming entangled in my studies.
This quarter, my grades shot up like crazy,
maybe the rigorousness of the courses wasn't so bad,
but I truly believe that God is helping me.
God, you know how important it is for me to stay faithful to you.
but I feel so sinful for being entangled in my studies.
I feel like I BARELY make enough time for you.
I don't pray hard enough.
I don't read the Scripture to its depth.
Yet God, You still show me mercy and You still show me Your Grace.
How can I complain when you've given me SO much.
I feel like my faith has been dry recently,
but I'm hoping it will become replenished & renewed.
With a little more time on my hands this summer,
I pray that I can just spend more and more time with you.
Be one with you, Lord.
This world.
What can it offer, seriously?
If there's one thing I struggled with a lot this quarter.
It's not loving this world.
I find myself struggling with that everyday.
Pleasing others with my actions.
Such as my parents with my studies.
My friends with how I act towards them.
ETC. the list does not end.
And it's hard not to be so entangled in this world
when you're so involved in it.
God, is this another one of your tests?
There's so much I want to do with my life.
And that's the thing. I should not want anything to do with this world.
I've been praying about this, God.
And I pray that you will lead me to an answer.
Surrendering it all.
Is that hardest thing to do.
I envy those who are able to do it.
Jesus did it. I remember at church the other day,
our Pastor talked about dryness in faith.
He said that if we're not willing to surrender it all,
then that is when our faith is in danger.
Faith then becomes dry, and powerless.
It becomes a repetition, and the excitement dies.
Help lead me to the ecstatic joy I had when I first found you, Christ.
But God, I want to thank you SO much for everything this year.
A time to reflect upon freshman year.
This year seriously went above and beyond my expectations.
I am truly blessed for...
_my acceptance in Christ the Lord.
_being transformed from who I was before.
_finding so much contentment in my life.
_a heart that is can be molded by God, my Creator.
_finding such great brothers and sisters in Christ that have helped me stay faithful
_finding Berean Community Church; just learning and growing so much there
_being in Crossroads Campus Ministries for great fellowship
_having such a strong Christian as my roommate
_my parents' gradual acceptance for me being a Christian
_my friends' support for me being a Christian
_my diligence in studying for my classes
_the daily essentials that God has provided me
_being a student at UC Irvine, amazingly it is a great blessing.
Things I have accomplished this year:
_Completed 1/4 of Undergrad as a Biological Sciences major.
_Took 18 units.
_Got into Rose Lab research.
_Became Public Relations in AIMS.
_Improved my writing skills.
_Improved my painting skills.
_Improved my math skills like mad.
I'll definitely miss DORM LIFE -- ALDOR = ALDORABLE.
_Easy access to EVERYONE.
_Staying up late nights playing card games.
_Sleeping with a night light on.
-Thanks to Tammy Her, I'm scared of sleeping in the dark now.
_Late night talks with roommate. <3
-I was so blessed with such a great roommate this year.
_Dormal: was a lot of fun, especially just bonding with the hall.
-Mitch eating 2 plates of the main course, 3 cheesecakes.
-Dancing with the hall and just having a good time.
_Killing spiders late at night.
-Asking Christian, Nick and Alex to try and kill it, but turns out they were deathly afraid of spiders too.
-Killed a spider with lint rollers.
_"HI!!!"
-Stacey randomly coming into our room. <3
_People randomly coming into our room.
-Just to say hi, just to talk, whatevers! :]
_Drunk neighbors.
-"BYAH!"--Christian
_Dorm bathroom life.
-I'm going to miss the shower massages.
-Hair on the shower ground...I won't miss so much. :p
-Losing my toothbrush cap down the drain. :/
_I'm actually going to miss dining commons
-Late night at Brandywine.
-Breakfast eggs = BEST.
-Random birds flying around.
_Singstar
-Kareoking with the hall. <3
_I'm gonna miss studying with my hall.
-Running downstairs to ask someone for help.
_Living next to the parking structure.
-Gonna miss the drifting, car alarms and skateboarding.
_Loudness of our hall.
-First floor girls just being who they are.
-Second floor guys and their loud music.
-Third floor awesomeness.
_Going to the gym.
-with Stacey & Olivia at the most random times.
-[11:00PM]- WANNA GO TO THE GYM?!
_Aldorable.
-Stealing Apoorva's internet connection. Thank you. <3
_My lovely Mexicans, Jimmy & Edgar.
_Study room.
-Whiteboard = my best friend during Fall & Winter quarter.
-The motion sensor lights = not so best friendly.
_The lamesauce washer & dryer machines.
-Not so much miss them, but acknowledge that the third washer machine is always broken.
-Drying clothes ALWAYS takes more than 1 more, therefore...dry jeans separately.
_Sleeping at random places during finals week.
-Bucklebury (Winter quarter)
-Student Center (Spring quarter)
_Our R.A. Roger.
-You have done so much for us as an RA, planning bonding activities, just playing with us, it has made freshman year THAT memorable.
_OVERALL...I'm just going to miss everyone. <3
Plans for this summer:
_Dental internship once I get back.
_Go to Canada for 2-3 weeks.
_Turning 19! :D
_Spend more time with friends. <3
_Finding a church.
_Get my license. LOL
_Summer School (Summer Session II)
-Writing 39C
-Chem 1C Lec
-Chem 1C Lab
_Summer Retreat at Berean.
_Spend more time with God. :]
Thank you Lord for just this unbelievable year filled with great memories. <3
YAY!! FRESHMAN YEAR IS OFFICIALLY OVER.
I feel like a true collegiate student now!
SUMMER TIME IS HERE! HALLELUJAH!
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| Thank you for everything, Jesus Christ.
I take life for granted, every. single. day.
Little moments like...
_having a family who loves me.
_attending such a great university.
_maintaining decent grades.
_being able to participate in research as a 1st year.
_having a roommate that I get along with.
_being overly nourished with the food I have.
_bountiful of friends I have.
...just little things.
Yet what do I do?
_I complain one too many times.
_I stress.
_I rely on my own self.
_I don't pray enough.
My mind became so distracted these past few weeks from you, Christ.
Yet Father, no matter what I do, you still show me Your Grace.
I feel like I don't give you enough praise and worship for what You're worthy of.
So I have goals for myself,
_spend more time to read and study the Bible. (Book of Matthew)
_spend more time to truly pray and meditate on the Scripture.
_manage my time with God & schoolwork.
_really take my goals seriously.
Jesus, I am truly thankful for the life you have blessed me with.
Praise the Lord. :]
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