QTs

Matthew 21 / 22

~ DL ~ Leave a comment

Matthew 21: 28-32
“What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.

Matthew 22: 11-14
 “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.”

There is a definite difference between hearing and doing. My mom yells at me all the time for it. “Doris, I told you to clean your room but did you do it? No. That’s why I’m here nagging you because you said you would but didn’t!” I’m sure God’s thinking the same thing. After OTR missions I told myself and God that I would try to take up my cross and follow him and so far its been almost the exact opposite. Am I following if all I’m doing all day is watching Netflix and play Smash with my brother? If I’m cooking or cleaning to avoid doing the real work?
After reading Matthew 22’s passage of the inadequate guest, I thought, am I dressed for God’s banquet? Do I have a wedding banquet? Maybe I received one but its being eating away by cloth eating bugs or dusting away in the corner of my life?

Lord, help me draw near to you that I may desire for your presence 24/7. God you reminded me of how much you love us, how big of a heart you have for each and every one of us individually and it amazes me the heart you have for such faulty people. God let me be able to spend time with you. May I be quick to listen and slow to speak (James 1:19). Help me to become more than just a responder but a do-er. In Jesus name, Amen.

Matthew 10

~ DL ~ Leave a comment

Recently my parents have been burdening my heart. My mom gave up Christianity when my brother was going through a hard time in school. “There is No God who would put me and my family through this kind of stress,” she said. My dad tried Christianity but kept to his ways of his southern korean tradition of “being a men”. “I will never shed tears because I am a man and your dad.” And being an overly emotional person, I cry at sad endings, frustrations, joys and it’s just a messy conversation when the three of us start talking about life and future and ‘what is right’.

34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. 37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
 

It kinda threw me into shock after reading Matthew 10:34-39. It also made me think of Matthew 8: 21-22 Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.” My first thought is God What? Didn’t you place me in this family for me? To think that God may ask me to turn away from my family to do his work is unsettling for me. Yes we get into argument and it’s not a perfect family but I love my family. If my whole family were to perish right now, I’m sure I would grow bitter at God.
Now thinking about how I would react and realize how much I hold on to my family so dearly must mean I’m still attached to this world. My brother once asked me, If you were to die right now, what would be the last thing you’d want to do? I thought about it and responded Say my goodbyes. It’s weird to think that God may not give me that opportunity or even have me turn against my family but if I think of the future for my kids, I would want them to rely on God’s unending love because I’m bound to fail somewhere. By revealing this passage I think God’s speaking to me that it’s okay that your parent and you are arguing. My name does that sometimes… *chuckles.

Father God, help me to grow into a wise, loving daughter of my parents but also to grow into a women of Christ that is willing to follow you for your greater purpose. Just like how we need to cut ties with bad influences such as friends in our lives, I think maybe it’s okay to cut the bad ties and influences our parents have on us like the words, ” You are unworthy”. Father you call me worthy, daughter, and child. Let this not be a rebel against my parents but have this become the strength that may lead them towards to understanding their place in your heart as well. Father help me to come to understand more of taking up my cross. Lord I pray for my future husband and family, children, I pray that they would love you more and rely more on your providence while respecting the family you have given them. My family is not eternal so Lord let my comfort come from my Father in Heaven and abide in you. In Jesus name, Amen.

All I need is you Lord
is you Lord
All I need is you Lord

Matthew 9

~ DL ~ Leave a comment

Jesus Heals, and by reading this chapter, I was able to find such settlement and rest in my heart that no matter how crazy the situation or impossible sicknesses can seem, He can heal through our faith.

Father God, I pray for unwithering faith. Lord let me be able to never doubt your abilities knowing that you are always working through our struggles, that you have never forsaken us. I pray for any doubt in me to leave and always walk forward strong in peace knowing you reign. You are such a great God who loves such faulty people, Thankyou. In Jesus name, Amen. 

Matthew 8

~ DL ~ Leave a comment

DL's avatarECHO FAMILY GROUP QUIET TIMES

Today in the AMI prayer it said,
Lord, let my children follow only my good examples, and reject the bad ones.  May they follow the examples of Christ.  Oh God, may my children surpass me in every aspect, particularly their love and devotion to You.  Thank You.
To be honest, that prayer made me feel pretty heavy hearted. Did my parents ever pray to God for me to love and devote my life to Him? To follow His heart when they’ve “failed”?
Coming from a non-christian family, and living in one for the past 3 months as a believer has been hard. Life goals, standards for the future is a difficult conversation, love comes in a different language, and every time we have a serious conversation, it ends up being long hours circling into different topics. I can’t help but think, They don’t understand where I’m coming from. If…

View original post 240 more words

Galatians 6 / Ephesians 1

~ DL ~ Leave a comment

I decided at the end of my semester that I would serve in the college ministry again although I would have been a graduate. I knew that post-grad life would be a difficult time for someone like me who likes to explore and try many new things. With all this free time knowing that I won’t be attending school (as of now) anymore, I was bound to get distracted and even lose the importance of why I decided to grow in my faith. Thankfully, I have somewhat came back from drifting a far and truthfully have an eager heart to grow with God once more.
Entering (as our church calls it) Apprenticeship the second year around, I feel different than I did last year. I feel calmer and less hyped but just peaceful in the fact that I know that God will do wonders if we let him lead us, but I know for him to lead us, we need to have a spirit filled vessel. Galatians 6:1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. reminds me that during this process and serving, I too need to keep an eye on myself and not be tempted. I think too much serving can also lead to distraction from the actual relationship with God. A friend once said that she confused love for God as serving; that by serving she thought she was showing love for God but disregarded the intimacy with him in prayer with her heart and His presence. I hope to enter this serve this year securely in God’s faith so that I may be able to serve my brothers and sisters and encourage them to walk in God’s truth.

Ephesians 1:13
In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,

Father God, let me be able to be so secure in who you are and what you have done for me. Let me be able to walk in your Spirit and follow where you lead. Let me not be afraid of rejection or fear and walk in your light and truth. Father, I want to be more like you, prepare my heart to see the way you do. In Jesus name, Amen. 

Galatians 5 – Freedom in Christ

~ DL ~ Leave a comment

Wow, has this chapter just hit all the points for me.

v1. For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
v16. But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. v17. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

I’m greatly attracted to all things “Freedom”, and  I thought being Christian was following rules that didn’t allow you to rebel and do what you felt like doing. But this past year I realized that through Christ, true freedom was offered; freedom from fears and even death and it was the greatest feeling of all.
Being back in New Jersey, I’m experiencing a lot of “freedom”. I’m doing what I want, seeing friends whenever, doing what I’d like whenever I’d like, and breathing in a relaxed day by day life under the roof of my parents. After a while, life doesn’t seem so bad, without Christ, but verse 1 reminds me again that this pattern and thoughts of “freedom” are all what the world calls freedom. I’m surrounded by so much relaxation that I don’t feel the stress of the world, that there is no need for a greater power. I always come back to the question, “Why am I Christian?” Then following, “why are you trying to hard to read and love and keep this relationship with Him? Why don’t you just do what you want and go back to being Christian later?” And I sometimes chuckle at how silly that question sounds.
I know that on my own, yea, maybe I’ll be able to do what I want, say what I want, think and feel what I want and just live life to bring myself high and try to leave something of worth on this earth for generations to see me as one of the Greats next to Presley, Hepburn, or Picasso. But I know with God, I’m living for a greater purpose, God’s Kingdom and my name in His kingdom. I’m living free from what the world tells me how I should act like or look like but as a perfect, worthy child of God. I know that I’ll fail time and time again and the world that surrounds me will fail me but I’ll have someone who will never fail with his Love, Grace, and Promise. And I think of how much Greater He is, chuckle, and shake my head at myself for thinking of being a slave to the world once more.

Father God, How precious is your love for me. How loved are we for you to keep loving us even though we seem to fail you just because you know you can use us to do great things in your name for your name. God let me not be tempted to this world, let me not listen the voices but listen to your most reassuring voice that speaks to me with such kindness. God I ask once again for you to check my heart and send a shaking to get rid of anything that distracts me from your Kingdom. God, your breath is the ultimate freedom, in your light we’re able to do wonders so Lord I pray, let me be attracted to your heart. I want to know you more, I want to seek you everyday and be more aware of your presence. Remind me time and time again that you provide the best for me, so help me take up my cross to follow you. In Jesus name, Amen.

This world has nothing for me, I will follow you ~
// Your love has ravished my heart, so pull me a little closer~

OBADIAH

~ DL ~ Leave a comment

sidenote: I’ve been recently behind on my reading so one day I just sat down and read all of Amos. Then, in one of the Ami QT’s it said, “A great question to ask while reading any Bible passage is, “What does this reveal about our God?” so I decided to expand or pray on every passage (even if at times it may feel as though nothing was grasps other than the wrath towards the Israelites).

Obadiah v12

12 But do not gloat over the day of your brother
in the day of his misfortune;
do not rejoice over the people of Judah
in the day of their ruin;
do not boast
in the day of distress.
After reading this it kinda stopped me. Church and no church, the community is similar in the fact that people still have flaws and not everyone gets along with everyone. There was a time (not so much anymore that I’m living away from large social settings and the fact that it’s summer break) where I hoped not-the-best for a brother or sister. And this person was someone who looked as if they had it all and got away with it all. In my head, whenever they did an act where I felt was morally wrong, I was like, “God, I know you will judge them, give them a hardship to fix this flaw.” It sounds embarrassing thinking of it now because what do I know. God could have already have been in the process of other things and his timing is better than mine. Anyway, I just couldn’t wait till that moment came where God would reveal their flaw, when they would go through a hard time and realize their failures
Verse 12 reminded me of the envious heart I had. Even when it’s not God and its sin bringing misfortune in their lives, rather than being happy that “my life is better than theirs” and mind speaking, “HA-HHAHH!” I want a heart like God’s, that aches for them to seek God’s word’s and comfort.
Father, we are so unclean with so many flaws. But Lord I pray that you would continue to shape my heart like yours. Knowing that we all have flaws, yet you continue to love us. Thankyou God for sending your son to wipe away our flaws and have us be able to talk to you simply through prayer. Lord, I pray that whenever animosity comes towards another brother, sister, or nonbeliever, that your peace would settle in my heart knowing that you are sovereign. In Jesus name, Amen.

Hosea 1 

~ DL ~ Leave a comment

Here, God asks Hosea to marry an unfaithful women and bare children. And on top of that, God gives them (in my opinion) ridiculous and almost humorous names such as “No Mercy” and “Not my people”. And to be honest I’m thinking.. “What is going on.”

To me, being a mom was one of my goals since I was in highschool and I already have planned out my first child’s name and thought about some goals as a parent to raise my kids. But to think about maybe God naming my kids “Not my people”… “No Mercy”, it made me squinge. It really showed me how unwilling I was to go with his plans for my family.

Father God, help to give more of myself to you. My goals, my future, my family. I know that the future you have in store for me is a mega-billion times better than what I think I have in store for myself. Let me be able to rest it all to your hands. In Jesus name, Amen.

Ezekiel 37. Dry Bones

~ DL ~ Leave a comment
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dafYxu8cQQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dafYxu8cQQ

11Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off.’12Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel. 13And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people. 14And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the Lord; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the Lord.”

It’s hard to believe sometimes that the God can rise up an army of dry bones because how? They are just bones; without flesh, all lifeless, and no pulse to make up the characteristics to be “alive”. But here, God puts his spirit within us, gives us life and a home. I guess what’s more hard to believe is that I started off as dry bones before I came to know the Lord.

There I times when I meet people and think to myself, “It’s hopeless. There is no way that God will be able to reach this person because they are so beyond reach of being saved. They are so placed in their ways that there is no possible way to move them; to have them see with a different eye.” But that’s where I’m wrong. God is able to move mountains, split seas, and if it’s in his will, he is able to raise dry bones to life. He is the only one that is able to move that friend, relative, stranger’s heart and open their eyes to see the life that he provides.

Father God, you work so miraculously in so many ways and I read it time and time again. Lord forgive me and my stubbornness with my faith because sometimes its just so hard to believe. But you are beyond sight, you are a spirit that moves in so many unexpected ways. God I pray that I would never give up on the friends and strangers that you have called me to. Lord, let your spirit move and give me courage to not lose hope on what seems hopeless. Let me have faith in who you are and what you do, and that I may trust you that when I face what seems as shortcomings, you have it safe in your hands. Lord thank you for giving hope when all hope is lost. Thank you for being such a generous God and I pray that I would not lose sight of the wonders you can do. In Jesus name, Amen.