Leviticus 19:32 "Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the Lord."
This next post I am going to talk about how God wants us to help and respect the elderly. Ever since my grandfather was diagnosed with cancer in September, I have realized that my time with my grandparents is getting slimmer. I want my grandparents to know that I love them and I look up to them.
Over Thanksgiving break, I decided to visit my grandparents instead of spending the break by myself at school. I didn't really have a plan about what I was going to talk about with them or anything of the sort. I was not sure what was going to happen or what I should expect. I went there on a whim, with God at my side.
After talking to my grandparents at Christmas and Thanksgiving, and asking them if they needed help with anything at all, they started to notice how I cared. My grandparents really appreciated my help, and the fact that I made them feel important. My grandmother even said that she was disappointed that I did not come and see her a week before my entire family was coming to visit during Christmas.
Once I said my goodbyes, my grandparents not only noticed my love, but they noticed my faith. My grandfather listened to me as I read him Romans 5:1-5, and did not find a reason to say "there is no God," like he usually does. My grandmother saw the cross necklace I was wearing, smiled, and held me real tight. She told me she was so happy that I was going to church.
It amazes me how little I have done, and how much Christ has done. Christ revealed Himself through me to my grandparents.. and I cannot be more thankful. My relationship with my grandparents is much stronger because of my faith in Jesus Christ. Without Him, my life is worthless. But with Him, my life is complete.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Star
As I was listening to the sermon in the Christmas Eve service tonight, something dawned on me. I was looking around the sanctuary, and I saw many stars. This reminded me of the star in the sky the night Jesus Christ was born. I believe in only one of the gospels, specifically in Matthew 2: 2-10, a star rose all across Bethlehem, and people from the east saw it. These people knew that Jesus Christ was born.. because a star shone brightly in the night sky. And so they traveled toward the star until they saw their Savior Jesus Christ, and worshiped him.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Christ and His Love
Now that I am home on Christmas break, I know that Christ has followed me home. I want to share what He has shown me.
As soon as I came home, my two cats and dog were way too excited to see me. I was really surprised because when I left, my pets didn't seem to pay attention to me much. With my family gone during the day, my pets are always around wanting to either play or sit beside me.
After days of wondering why my pets are acting this way, it reminded me of Christ. Jesus asks us to love Him, and to love others. Christ asks us to love each other unconditionally. If we love Christ, He will love us, too.
I know it may seem like a silly analogy, but, because I love my pets unconditionally, they love me, too. As long as we love each other, Christ's love will abound in us. And if we love Christ, He will love us.. forever.
It's amazing how I see God's Creation in a lot of things today. God is so beautiful, and His Creation reflects that.
There is one other item I want to share. I am taking this from someone, actually. Since they posted it online, I believe it will be ok to share. I am sharing this because God is helping someone that I want to help. He has sent an angel to help this person, and I am in awe.
From 'The Raven' - "Though people may underestimate you, know that you're beautiful. Know that you're kind. Know that you're powerful and you can do anything in Christ who strengthens you." ---God bless this person who sent this.
As soon as I came home, my two cats and dog were way too excited to see me. I was really surprised because when I left, my pets didn't seem to pay attention to me much. With my family gone during the day, my pets are always around wanting to either play or sit beside me.
After days of wondering why my pets are acting this way, it reminded me of Christ. Jesus asks us to love Him, and to love others. Christ asks us to love each other unconditionally. If we love Christ, He will love us, too.
I know it may seem like a silly analogy, but, because I love my pets unconditionally, they love me, too. As long as we love each other, Christ's love will abound in us. And if we love Christ, He will love us.. forever.
It's amazing how I see God's Creation in a lot of things today. God is so beautiful, and His Creation reflects that.
There is one other item I want to share. I am taking this from someone, actually. Since they posted it online, I believe it will be ok to share. I am sharing this because God is helping someone that I want to help. He has sent an angel to help this person, and I am in awe.
From 'The Raven' - "Though people may underestimate you, know that you're beautiful. Know that you're kind. Know that you're powerful and you can do anything in Christ who strengthens you." ---God bless this person who sent this.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Something really amazing happened to me the other day and I really want to share.
Last April, I was diganosed with TMJD. I talked about this in one of my last posts if you want some details...
but anyway, my jaw has been really irritated because I have been doing a lot more playing lately. I've had a lot of performances in the past week. Being a performer, I know that performing has a different mentality compared to personal practice (at least for me). So, with all these performances, my jaw has had enough. It has been popping constantly. My neck and back have been tense for two weeks. I have been getting shooting pain up from my back all the way up to my jaw at least 20 times a day now (which is REALLY BAD). You can imagine the pain that I have been feeling..
Last Monday, I had a very strenuous day. I had an oboe class for an hour, an hour and a half of large ensemble rehearsal, 15 minute performance in studio, a 15 minute chamber music performance, and a 15 minute jury. All of these required a lot of concentration out of me. By the time I finished my chamber performance, I was in tears because my jaw would not stop shaking in the entire performance, and my back and neck hurt a whole lot. I knew that I would not be able to do my jury.
As I was packing my horn, I was wondering how I would tell my horn professor that I cannot do my jury (which has already been delayed from a year prior). I came out of the green room, and my two best friends were there to greet me. God does amazing things because this was not planned. I broke into tears.. They prayed for me for ten minutes. Although I still felt like a mess, I decided to go read some Bible verses before I go see my teacher. I ended up reading Isaiah 41 and 43. One verse stuck out that said "Do not be afraid, for I am with you." Wow! God is with me? When God is by my side, I can do anything! I decided to write down as many verses as I could on my sheet of music. I wanted to perform. Most importantly, I needed God to be my strength because I clearly had none.
My teacher heard about my busy day and asked me if I wanted to not play. I told him that no, I am ready to play, and I want to. I went in, and before I played any note, I read the verses on my page. Then the most amazing thing happened. The pain disappeared. It was completely gone! Even when I felt like my jaw could not handle it any longer, I remembered that one verse, and God pulled me through. I survived my performance, and not only so, God performed through me! I have never felt such strength from God ever before. God is so faithful. Without Him in my life, I know for a fact my horn playing would not be existing now. The only reason why I can play horn now is because I trust in God, and He gives me His strength, and never fails to do so. AMEN!
2 Corinthians 12: 7-10
"To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power ismade perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
Last April, I was diganosed with TMJD. I talked about this in one of my last posts if you want some details...
but anyway, my jaw has been really irritated because I have been doing a lot more playing lately. I've had a lot of performances in the past week. Being a performer, I know that performing has a different mentality compared to personal practice (at least for me). So, with all these performances, my jaw has had enough. It has been popping constantly. My neck and back have been tense for two weeks. I have been getting shooting pain up from my back all the way up to my jaw at least 20 times a day now (which is REALLY BAD). You can imagine the pain that I have been feeling..
Last Monday, I had a very strenuous day. I had an oboe class for an hour, an hour and a half of large ensemble rehearsal, 15 minute performance in studio, a 15 minute chamber music performance, and a 15 minute jury. All of these required a lot of concentration out of me. By the time I finished my chamber performance, I was in tears because my jaw would not stop shaking in the entire performance, and my back and neck hurt a whole lot. I knew that I would not be able to do my jury.
As I was packing my horn, I was wondering how I would tell my horn professor that I cannot do my jury (which has already been delayed from a year prior). I came out of the green room, and my two best friends were there to greet me. God does amazing things because this was not planned. I broke into tears.. They prayed for me for ten minutes. Although I still felt like a mess, I decided to go read some Bible verses before I go see my teacher. I ended up reading Isaiah 41 and 43. One verse stuck out that said "Do not be afraid, for I am with you." Wow! God is with me? When God is by my side, I can do anything! I decided to write down as many verses as I could on my sheet of music. I wanted to perform. Most importantly, I needed God to be my strength because I clearly had none.
My teacher heard about my busy day and asked me if I wanted to not play. I told him that no, I am ready to play, and I want to. I went in, and before I played any note, I read the verses on my page. Then the most amazing thing happened. The pain disappeared. It was completely gone! Even when I felt like my jaw could not handle it any longer, I remembered that one verse, and God pulled me through. I survived my performance, and not only so, God performed through me! I have never felt such strength from God ever before. God is so faithful. Without Him in my life, I know for a fact my horn playing would not be existing now. The only reason why I can play horn now is because I trust in God, and He gives me His strength, and never fails to do so. AMEN!
2 Corinthians 12: 7-10
"To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power ismade perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
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