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  • Digital != Better

    "Unplugging recognizes that personal beings are created for personal interaction by a personal God. We need to be in the presence of each other. Digital connections aren't enough to keep us healthy. We need to be touched. We need nonverbal signals. We need uninterrupted spaces in our lives for the presence of God and the presence of others."

    Adele Ahlberg Calhoun, Spiritual Disciplines Handbook, InterVarsity Press

    Need? bah.
    I tend to forget this or maybe I choose to forget; digital sure seems easier.

  • Holiday Wish Lists

    After receiving a few "wish lists" from people, I became curious, so I made one. It's been a long while since I let myself indulge. It was actually harder than I thought. It took some time before I came up with this list. These items belong in the category of new camera lens, software (win 7, adobe suite/lightroom), spiced up mbp, my own Catan/Risk set, tokidoki, magic wallet, etc. - basically, things I'd like, but probably won't be purchasing any time soon, if ever. Just give it a little time and I'll forget this list of material possessions I lack, until the next time I indulge, heh. However, it did lead to something else...

    1 - Star Trek (2009) Blu-Ray

    2 - Backpack - Swiss computer backpack

    3 - Sleeping Bag - REI caterpillar green (Joan's)

    4 - MP3 Player/GPS - Motorola Droid (or Apple iPod/GPS)

    [no image does the droid justice]

    6 - Walt Disney Classic Collection Figurine - Mulan & Khan "Triumphant" approx. $400 (can we say crazy? also note ridiculous price for adorable dust-collector)
       

    wow, so different from childhood days: super mario game wristwatch, teddy ruxpin, easy-bake oven, a pink phone in my room, a dollhouse, SNES, Beauty & the Beast soundtrack, TMNT arcade game, a puppy. hm, I never did receive any of those items for Christmas, but I did get a little mermaid wristwatch, storytelling mickey, never did get the oven or phone (just skipped straight to the ones grown-ups use), a jeep powerwheel (from my grandpa), the original NES, no Beauty & the Beast (but it'll be re-released in 2010), TMNT video game, and my 2 jumbo pups over the years (the 1st I never knew as a pup). wow, my parents gave us some pretty neat presents (some didn't even need a special occasion)! crazy how TV commercials must have had a whole lot of influence on children's exhaustive Christmas lists. since I'm reminiscing, might as well add that Penny's computer book (Inspector Gadget's niece) and Dick Tracy's watch isn't as cool anymore either (they were on my impossible-to-have list - you know, the one with "perfect little sister" or "magical wardrobe"). now that I'm older, I realize that when it really comes down to it, everything I ever wanted (and needed), I already have...God just gives extra and it's always a surprise. Thankful for Christ, thankful for family (includes lily, willy, & kira). Happy Thanksgiving and ready to count down the days till Christmas! :)

  • Remember Not

    18 "Remember not the former things,
       nor consider the things of old.
    19 Behold, I am doing a new thing;
       now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
    I will make a way in the wilderness
        and rivers in the desert.
    20The wild beasts will honor me,
        the jackals and the ostriches,
    for I give water in the wilderness,
       rivers in the desert,
    to give drink to my chosen people,
     21the people whom I formed for myself
    that they might declare my praise.

    - Isaiah 43

  • glee

    this is the one series that makes me slightly disappointed hulu will no longer be without cost in this upcoming year. well, there's always FOX on demand. I just finished catching up. :)
    you know, if you actually stop and think about it, many of the show's subplots are pretty wrong... anyway, with that aside, the show makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I'd so love to go to a live taping one day!

    Glee Somebody to love from Mira on Vimeo. /from Ep. 5 (original by Queen)

  • Aging. Loving. Living.

    since my return home from Alabama, I've been pursuing the discipline and practice of "slowing down". other than learning that, the Lord has also been shedding light into a few other things...

    Aging: Parents (and consequently, me). My church has been going through a series about Caring For Aging Parents. Death is imminent. My own mortality comes as no surprise to me, nor my family (thus, the cry of my heart that they may come to know Him who saves).  However, the process is one in which, though I have thought of before, it is one that I have come to see more tangibly. Along with that is the realization of this walk alone. Marriage, intimacy & a family of my own - although it is something I do greatly desire, I have come to see God's grace and find contentment in. I don't fear growing old "alone", I'm grateful to be in an age where I don't "need" a man, nor do I lack meaningful relationships in the context of community. It's very possible I remain single for the rest of my remaining years here on earth. This reality (it becomes more real as each year passes) settled with me, until this Sunday morning. It was first time I realized there's sorrow in my heart because it turns out, it's not the fear of ME growing old "alone", but my parents. I'd really rather not be without a husband when undergoing this trial. Will this change how I am or cause me to trade in my values? Probably not. Do I know & truly believe that whatever the Lord plans for me will be good and the best? Yes. Does this change how I feel? No, not right now, but in time, I'll see. God will grant me grace and He will see me through. He is more than enough.

    Loving: Enemies (for reasons I do not know, but can only guess and honestly, people I could really care less about - them and what they think), forgiving those who have caused much strife & hurt (and who do not see, nor care about the wrong they've done), people who are very different (how is it that I can respect, admire, and truly appreciate someone, yet still feel strained when I'm around them?), the insincere, and even people I easily love (yes, that's right), these are the very same people I don't know how to love. My love is so warped and limited. My expectations tend to grow in accordance to my love for them. Though Jesus has high expectations of those He loves, His love is freeing and sacrificial, perfect in every way. At best, mine is kind, thoughtful, & well-intentioned. At worst, it's selfish, weak, & full of constraints. God's power and nature will assure that my imperfect love be transformed into the same agape love His Son freely gives because He has finished the work to make me (and mold me) His own.

    Living: In my self-sufficiency to love God and love people, I fail to see His glory, acknowledge His power. It proves my small view of an Almighty God. Only when I surrender and draw from Living Water, can I fully love and live, as He calls me to. Without knowing Him, seeing His glory, fully surrendering to & trusting in Him, it is impossible to love others as He desires us to. I'll be missing out on truly seeing His beautiful handiwork and the unique path I'm to take in the day to day, as He leads me on. "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace."

  • Please Excuse My Stench

    Last night, I asked God to help give me some perspective on a few things...

    His answer to me was, "Frankly, you need to get over yourself. It might sound harsh, but that's seriously what it means." And this was AFTER He reminded me that I could die at any moment. Lovely. Well, you can't get a better Friend than that...

    There's that perplexing command: "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" (Phil. 4:4). You'll notice that it doesn't end with "...unless you're doing something extremely important." No, it's a command for all of us, and it follows with the charge, "Do not be anxious about anything" (v.6).

    Worry implies that we don't quite trust that God is big enough, powerful enough, or loving enough to take care of what's happening in our lives.

    Stress says that the things we are involved in are important enough to merit our impatience, our lack of grace toward others, or our tight grip of control.

    Basically, these two behaviors communicate that it's okay to sin and not trust God because the stuff in my life is somehow exceptional. Both worry and stress reek of arrogance. They declare our tendency to forget that we've been forgiven, that our lives here are brief, that we are headed to a place where we won't be lonely, afraid, or hurt ever again, and that in the context of God's strength, our problems are small, indeed.

    (excerpted from Francis Chan's Crazy Love)


    You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. - Is. 26:3

  • From Suffering to Glory

    Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?"
    John 11:40


    "Lord, help me believe that your glory is worth this suffering, just as you knew that my seeing it was worth yours." - Elyse Fitzpatrick, Comforts from the Cross

  • Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

    it's been awhile, since my last public entry... *post* there. :) not feeling like sharing anything lately, yet strangely, I feel like an overflowing well (non-typical usage) at the same time.

    anyway, just to note: I just finished the 7th and last book of the Harry Potter series (took about a week's time). I only book-ended the series (read the first and last book only), not on purpose. one thing stood out - although the fate of many of the characters was to be expected, there was one character I grew a fond admiration for throughout the entire series...I'm glad to say that fondness not only remains, but was strengthened (no, it's not Harry Potter, but revealing the person's identity would make this entry quite a dreary spoiler). the book fulfilled the purpose in which I read it: an end. it was much more satisfying than the 6th movie released: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, which left me aghast, to say the least.

  • Taught by Toddlers


    "But Jesus called them to him, saying, 'Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God..." - Luke 18:16

    Earlier this month, I was privileged and blessed to care for the little tykes of LCC (9 tykes to be exact!). While they had their retreat at Pepperdine U, Malibu. From Jul. 30th-Aug. 2nd, 4 others and myself got to spend at least a good 6 hrs a day with the lighthouse gloworms (they range from 8 mos-2 yrs). It was the first time I got to experience spending that much time with kids so young. Although, I volunteered at a daycare while I was in Jr. High (there was always a mentor present), served in the nursery at church throughout HS (an avg. service is 1.5 hrs), and babysat for friends (mostly at night, so most of the time they're sleeping), the time per day was quite small compared to this, nor was it 4 consecutive days straight! The time I had there was delightful, it was also an eye-opening experience.
    There were 3 things I became more aware of while serving these kids    :

    1. Omygoodness! Motherhood will change my life forever! -- Ok, ok, it's not like I didn't know that before, but this realization was enhanced. You know, when you go on long car or plane rides and the pressure makes it so you can't hear as well? If it goes on long enough, you sort of forget for awhile that sound can be clearer. Imagine that and then compare it to after your ear pops. Not like you were deaf before, but suddenly you can hear a whole lot clearer! It was sort of like that for me. As much as I loved my time with these precious children and anticipate having my own someday soon (Lord willing), it made me all the more grateful of my time now (unmarried, w/o children) and heightened the awareness that I ought to be a good steward of this period of singleness.
    "To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single as I am." - 1 Cor. 7:8

    2. Praying/praising throughout the day redefined -- In a sermon series titled, Pray Like Jesus by Pastor Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church, he gave a heartwarming example of how his little daughter prayed for her baby brother because he fell and had started crying. She reached out her hand over her baby brother's head and prayed, "Dear God, pweez let Pookie not be so sad. Amen." When people see this phenomenon, they ask him, "Wow! How do you teach your kids to pray like that?!" He said that they don't. God does the working, He also made it so kids learn by example. It was just how he and his wife lived their daily life. They observed and then just started doing it. This is something I don't see often, but I witnessed it that weekend: teachers I served alongside praying on-the-spot & audibly, so the child can hear. As much as I would talk to God throughout the day, I never really considered how it will impact a mother's day-by-day and the child-rearing process.
    "Pray without ceasing" - 1 Thess. 5:17

    3. Brings whole new dimension to how the Heavenly Father loves His children -- There was plenty of stinky diapers, messy burp-ups, and tantrums to go around. Despite all that, all you would want for them is that they be cleaned, satisfied, and happy. They're worth it. And when they laugh, show you that they're learning something, or crawl over to cuddle with you, it makes your heart soar. When they're not in that state, I'm just as unhappy -not just because angry crying babies aren't fun, but because in some way, you feel it, too. You either want to fix it or instead, you try to divert their attention because what they want is harmful to them or others. Although they're just a few months old, they're quite intelligent; they can also be quite willful and are very much born are sin. Moments come and they'll try your patience, but they still have limited understanding. So in a way, that's sort of how God sees us! He's mindful we're but dust. We can be quite stinky/messy, we try His patience, yet despite all that, He still wants the best for us. When we are joyous and show Him we're learning something, it makes Him glad. When we're hurt or angry, He feels it and understands, too. (Whenever we sin, we commit idolatry) He's also frequently trying to divert our attention away from what has our heart at that moment to draw us to Himself. Wow, and that's just a glimpse of God's love!
    "If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"     - Luke 11:13

  • Risk List

    Scary Things To (Maybe) Do Someday:
    (1) Jump from the sky in one socially acceptable manner or another (i.e.  sky diving, hang gliding, etc)
    (2) Fall in love
    (3) Have multiple needles stuck in me, while running electricity through them (aka: acupuncture): Check /wasn't my idea

    on a totally different note (sort of):

    found it'd be appropriate to add to this post, heh     /shared by kp