Soli Deo gloria

Some words to some beautiful people…

• Thank you for being my small group and DT leader, you beautiful servant of God. May the Lord bless you with double portions for your giving and gentle heart. Just small acts as driving us everywhere and paying for our outings show me a glimpse of God’s mighty and eternal love for me. Thank you, thank you, thank you God for bringing her into my life. What a precious woman of God! I love you, my sister. 
• Thanks for being patient with me even though I talk to you so much. I really, truly thank God for bringing us together here at Davis. We may live miles away from each other when it comes summertime, but I know God is in the center of our precious friendship. The love and care we show each other really reminds me that God reigns over our friendship and over our lives. You are a blessing. I love you, my sister. 
• Thanks for taking initiative and leading our class. I am encouraged by your leadership and sacrificial heart. We may have drifted apart for a while, but God really brought us together by reminding us of why we are friends. I am so excited to see what great things He will do in you and through you. Let’s continue to be loving and encouraging to each other. I love you, my sister. 
• Thank you for being the speaker of Truth. Even though I only met up with you once this year, that one talk was enough for me to just really realize once again how much God loves me. Thank you for your God-given wisdom and gentle heart. I will miss you! I love you, my sister. 
• Thank you for being a giving sister. I see the mother in you, and that is such a great quality you have. I wish I can have more maternal instincts like you. haha. Though we just started to grow closer, I know that God will bring more intimacy. I am always blessed by your servant-like heart and words of encouragement. You are beautiful. If I were a man, I would pursue you with all my heart. I love you, my sister. 
• Thanks for being an honest, honest sister who does not shy away from truth. Even when things get ugly and even when you are rebuked, still you are accepting and honest. I really admire your acceptance of Truth. You are truly a humble woman of God. Thanks for always hanging out with me and inviting me to places, and showing me that you care. I love you, my sister. 
• Thanks for opening up to me first back in Fall Conference though we did not know each other well. You are my accountability partner, and I just thank God for your willingness to listen and share. God has grown you so much this year through struggles and realizations. Continue to just rely on Him and give it all to Him. I love you, my sister. 
• Thank you, my gorgeous sister, for just being so open with me. I am so thankful that we share our struggles together. Though we don’t see each other everyday, I still feel intimate with you. I really see you rejoicing in your struggles and I know that God is and will just help you persevere. You have such an amazing voice, and I love that you use it to glorify God. You are a treasure. I love you, my sister. 
• Thanks for being the cute, God-seeking sister that you. I am so happy that God opened your heart and eyes this year to His truth, and that you decided to fully dedicate your life to Him. Keep on being hungry for Him. I am always praying for you. We do not see each other often, but dang I still love you. You are pretty inside and out, so be confident and bold. I love you, my sister. 
• Thanks to your parents for giving birth to you and to God for just bringing you to Davis, to MSM. I see a giving spirit in you, and I am always so encouraged by that. You are a man of prayer, a man that seeks the Lord with all his heart. Thanks for listening to me and being so kind to everyone. I really learned some truths through you. I thank God that he revealed truths to me through you. I love you, my brother. 
• Thank you both for being a perfect example of a God-fearing, Christ-loving couple. I see God’s love radiating from both of you. Thank you for always opening up your home and always inviting us over. I am so blessed to have such great mentors and leaders like you both. I love spending time with you both. Thank you, and I love you both! 
• Thank you part-human, part-shark for being giving and loving even through your bullying ways. I see God working in you, and I love it. I am pretty sure you bought stuff for me more than once this year… so thank you! I feel love when people do small acts for me. I love you, my brother. 
• And lastly, thank you God for placing these people in my life. There are so many more brothers and sisters, leaders, etc. that I am blessed to have. I just thank everyone for being patient with me and loving toward me. I know I am not easy to love, so thank you all! Wee!

Anonymous asked: who is jesus christ to you? don't give me a cheap, easy, churchy "he is everything!" or "he is my lover!" answer.

mmm good question. I don’t think saying Jesus is my everything or He is my lover is a cheap, easy, churchy answer. It’s just a common one, but that doesn’t cheapen the values of those statements. Definitely believers call Jesus and view Him more in their own way. Some may see Him most as a father, some as Lord, some as their husband, and etc. But as a believer, God is all those identities: He really is everything (Father, Provider, Savior, Lord, Yahweh, Husband, Rock, etc.). 

To me, I see Jesus mainly as my Father. This has something to do with my personal testimony… I see Him as a Father who loves unconditionally and adopts me as His own child. He provides not only materially but also spiritually. He is a father who is gentle yet disciplinary. And I know that He will never, ever change His love for me. 

Joy and Peace

!!! Today is a day of confirmation and affirmation. 

I had one of the best talks ever with an encouraging older sister… and dang, God really spoke through her. She asked questions that just brought up memories of past hurts and bitterness that I suppressed. I never really thought about those hurts as something that would psychologically and spiritually affect me even to this day. But God already started the healing process. I am healed. Just because I am still in the process of being healed won’t blind me from God’s view of an already healed Selah. Dang, restoration, restoration, restoration. RESTORATION. Restoration since Fall Conference. Restoration even before I realized it. Restoration in His hands. As I just poured out my heart and my life to her, I realized aspects of myself that I didn’t know before. She just confirmed again that God wants to tell me and show me HOW MUCH HE LOVES ME. HE LOVES ME SO MUCH. She said that even if I just sat down doing nothing, He would still love me just the same. Yes, I always knew this but I think this realization is hitting me hard. Just as God died for my sins of the past, present, and future; He died for the sins of those that hurt me. My problem is that I try to give a lot of love instead of receiving also, but God tells me to RECEIVE HIS LOVE right now instead of focusing on giving, giving, giving. His love is just…so…amazing. I can’t describe it. 

This year, actually, is a year of realizations. God opened my eyes to the depths of my heart and to His promises. So much has happened this year… a new vision, new goals, new knowledge, new prayer topics, new sisters and brothers, new courage, etc. 

Thank you. I just can’t even express in words or actions how much I am grateful for your abundant grace and mercy.