Hebrews 13: 1-9 (Quiet Time)

Wanting to just have some quiet time and meditate on the word..i opened up my old QT website, "http://qt.swim.org/living/" - it use to be my go-to qt site and i use to do it daily! (crazy) LOL so i'm just trying to pick up the habit again. It's good to keep learning about the word in my classes and listen to worship music and be surrounded by "christian influence." But it's totally different just having some quiet time with the word and Lord and just letting it sink in~ 

So i just wanted to share todays passage because it really just summarized what i've been trying to do. To do everything in love- it's more than what i, my sinful nature can do a lone, even saved by grace. I need God's love to continuously pour out. Below is the passage and in italicize is my commentary/relation to ma life.

1Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. 

Simply said. We're all brothers and sisters in Christ. Doesn't matter if you don't know someone as well as you know your best friend. We're all brought together through Christ doe.

2Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. 

Like it says above, we're all bros and sis. It really just emphasizes what i need to continuously think about, which is doing everything in God's love. With that, i need to love everyone not just the people i like.

3 Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

This really brings me back to just really feeling for people. Not just telling them oh i'll pray for you! But really being there for people and putting myself in their shoes..because if they're suffering, i'm suffering too. We all in da same house just trying to live for God.

4 Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. 

This is definitely not related to me now ..but definitely will be in the latter. 

5 Keep your lives free from the love of moneyand be content with what you have, because God has said,“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” What can mere mortals do to me?”

I think it's easy for us to get so involved with having money. We never have enough and theres so many things we want to do. These days, i've been learning to not want as much. I use to think i wasn't that materialistic..but i mean, come on. Im blessed with even having apple products, michael kors bags, etc. Some were gifts, but still! Because i have these things, makes me want more of "designer"~ I need to know that i'm blessed with these things and God provides with what i need not necessarily what i want. Also, i'm always "Broke" so the fact that God has provided with car, phone, college payments is simply amazing. Thank you God. forreal.

6 So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.

i LOVE that it says "say with confidence." Yes. please let us all say in confidence and with full hearts and faith! He will always be with us. Don't be afraid bubs.

7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 

I think sometimes we forget who influenced us to have this faith. There are so many people to thank that has helped me grow in this faith. (Teacher) Daveed, Moon GSN, Pastor Nishanth, Sharon, JD, and so many more! Yes, God is truly great~ but i got to see His greatness through you guys. Thank you.

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Yep. Simple as that. He has never failed you yet, He aint starting now.

9 Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods, which is of no benefit to those who do so.

I think in this generation, so many links and articles get spread around and false word gets spread around. Who knew that back in the NT they would know! Just praying for discernment from God to know the truth and to respect those who preach the truth.

Hope this encouraged you guys as much as it did for me. As for my application, i hope that each of these verses will carry out my everyday life. Not just in this moment where i'm realizing all these truths. But to truly be reminded of it daily. Just trust God love God and love people...eep! harder than it seems. 

Do Everything In Love, Always~

SK

Week 2 Update

It's already been 2 weeks since i've been here. Feels like e t e r n i t y

Good news: i had off today and tomorrow as well!
Bad news: it's because it's been -94583209543 degrees ! Thankfully they realize that we just shouldn't be allowed to walk to classes in this weather :)

Everything seems to be going along smoothly~ I'm really trying to make the most out of being here. Although i am here just for school, i have 3 years here..and when else am i going to be this far from home and experience new things!


Living:
I've been getting to know the girls on my floor/suite more so it's been really cool. They're all so sweet and i really am blessed to be surrounded by such nice people! But because it is a christian school, it's just different not hearing as much curse words and smelling cigarettes/alcohol everywhere! lol. They usually come to my suite to watch movies/eat/chill. And with my roommate situation, i'm just glad that she's super nice and we're getting a long. Better than a crazy psycho right? hahah

School
I didn't know i could learn so much in my classes. I knew that i'd learn a lot but i never knew what i'd learn! I'm learning so much about the foundations and basics of Christianity as well as other subjects relating to christianity.

I also have been blessed to join the Short Missions team to L.A. this spring break! :) I never felt a push to do missions, especially oversees, but i was really excited to learn about Trinity's urban missions in states. I love the idea of being in a big city that seems "glamorous" like LA but yet, you know there are certain communities and areas there that aren't so glam. We'll be teaming up with a community/church there and i will be learning more in detail about the trip this week! So i'll be updating you guys with more info soon :)

Church
Calvary has been great so far~ It was the second time we went yesterday and my brother & I really enjoyed it. It's so hard for us to go out and meet people since we're both pretty introverted..but theres always certain people that are extroverted..and come up to us! :) I got a jist of what their sundays are like (reminded me of newsong!) - they have service at 9:30 am then fellowship with bagels and coffee! Then they seem to go out for lunch afterwards..then come back to church to watch some of the guys play basketball or whatever..then they have sunday.night.bowling. YEP. i got my bowling fix here !!! :) We didn't go this time because we were both pretty tired but super excited to go! lovelove bowling hehe :)
Also, like i mentioned before, they have a single ministry~ and they have a single ministry retreat coming up end of February! So i'm definitely attending and that will give me a chance to get to know them at a smaller setting~ the church itself is huge so it's hard to get to know people.

I also got a job!! Well, not a set set job, but taking baby sitting jobs :) I met a family recently with a 5 year old boy and 7 year old girl ! So so cute. I start my first day with them Feb 19th so i'm excited. Also meeting some other families to possibly babysit this week. I think it's a good chance for me to get money but also not be so consumed by the job.

Other than that..everything is great! I'm just learning so much about God everyday because of the environment and really learning how to trust Him more and more. He never fails to show His infinite grace, mercy, and love. Its truly amazing.

Also, thank you for those who i skyped, facetime, chatted, phoned with this week! I absolutely loved getting word from you guys and just feeling loved. Being away really shows you who cares about you. When you're home, people contact you often to hang out. So..when you're not home to chill with/convenient, people don't contact you. It stinks but i guess thats life right! Well, again, to those who still keep in contact..i love you guys more than you know. <3

Hope everyone stays warm and with da Lord ! :) hehe and thanks for following my updates.


Do Everything In Love, Always~
SK

Officially Missing You

I'm officially..missing everyone :'(

I'm pretty sure this is the only picture that has most of my girls in one pic<3 Love all of you guys and those who aren't in this pic.
How blessed were we that we all lived near each other and was able to see each other at least once a week...danggit now i have to settle for not seeing you guys for a few months :(

And i'm really missing all the other amazing people i've gotten close with recently/kept in touch with back at home. Especially my new song people :( I literally don't know what to do since this is the first time i'm away from homeee.... #help

Ok...well this is me just complaining but...if you're reading this..please keep in touch with me and talk to me </3 call me, text me, SKYPE me, fb me..email me..IDC just communicate with me.
kthanks bye !



Do Everything In Love, Always~
SK

Loving God Loving People

"Oh how many times have I broken Your heart

But still you forgive

If only I ask"

All for Love - Hillsong United

So i realized over the past few years and more over the past few months..how great God's love is.

I mean, yeah yeah we all know we've heard it before but do you think you've really grasped how big, how great His love is?

When i first encountered this song years ago during Youth Group, i automatically fell in love with the lyrics. How many times have we all been guilty of telling God off, and saying that we're better off. That we just can't trust Him or that we just want to have fun. Still, like this song says, "But still you forgive, If only I ask."

The parable of the Prodigal Son from Luke 15: 11-32 hits home every time too. Although i've heard pastors use this as their sermon topic many times and has given me perspective in different ways, it never fails to amaze and shock me. God's love is that great? I can screw up and He'll still love me?

How great is that. (I mean..that doesn't mean you're going to continue purposely sinning because you know you'll be forgiven..right? heh)

So..How does this relate to me?

Over the past few months, i know i've shared with a few people..i've just been learning how to love. As many of you know i try to "Do Everything In love" taken from my life verse (1 Corinthians 16:14) but ..it's really harder than you think.

By trusting in God more and just literally letting Him take over my life, my heart and mind have both been changed. Rather than just feeling bad for sucky situations people are going through, i literally feel for them. My heart begins to ache for them. By letting God reveal His true ultimate love for me, I really am beginning to see people not as we all see them, but the way God sees them.

Because really, when God sees us, He doesn't see sin or bad manners or any pet peeves that might bug Him. He sees them as His son/daughter and just loves on them no matter what.

In conclusion..

I've been trying to love more. Especially all these new folks i've been meeting. It's definitely hard because I feel like they're from mars...but they're really just midwesterners. (esp my roommate)....But I'm just praying for God's heart! Everyone is super welcoming and nice here too so i just need to adjust. It definitely would have been too easy for me to say that i love my jersey people. We're all pretty much the same ! So God is definitely challenging me here in my new chapter..let's hope i stay faithful and keep on pushing~

Love you all! And thanks for reading my blog (even though its pretty boring..) and caring about what's been on my mind/life. Stay warm & #loverelentlessly <3

Do Everything In Love, Always~

SK

For I am Yours, and You are mine. (How I Got Here Pt. 1)

"You called me out upon the waters

the great unknown, where feet may fail

And there i find you in the mystery

oceans deep, my faith will stand.

And i will call upon your name

& keep my eyes above the waves

When oceans rise my soul will rest in your embrace

For I am Yours, and You are mine."

Oceans - Hillsong United

please watch~ song starts at 3:46

I know many of you guys have heard this song...but when i first heard it at Hillsong Conference on Oct 4, 2013~ it changed my life.  Just as Joel says.. we all can sing this song and really genuinely mean it too..but unless we actually take action, it's all just words! I love that he also says that rather than God looking for more of what we do, He just wants more of us. More of our trust and just our heart. After that...trust me (from experience), your life will not be the same.

For some reason, the thought of the unknown and stepping out with full faith in God was literally shouting at me. It was all so intriguing i knew that I wasn't ever going to truly know God's plans for me unless i step out into the unknown. Step out into the darkness of what is unseen. And to step out with full faith in Him. As Matthew 14: 25-33 tells us...Jesus literally told Peter to come out into the water..and just trust Him! Not only that, if you read it you'll see that Peter is the one who told Jesus that if it really is Him..to tell him to walk out into the water! mind.blown. And there you see..you need to step out and Jesus will already be there waiting~

Getting myself to Trinity & deciding to study Youth Ministry wasn't a random choice i made one day. It was a quick decision but a very long process (since sometime in HS) to finally decide to do full-time ministry. For those of you who know me...you know i'm always so hyped up and get a high talking about God and how amazing He is. It just never dawned on me that there was a difference in living for God and making a living for God. So then i made the decision to finish my undergrad learning and growing in a Christian Community.

I was not satisfied with just being a sunday christian. I was not satisfied with the idea of a secular job. A 9-6 job. A job filled with no passion or meaning (to me, at least.) For me..it would mean that i settled for a stable job and a better "title" to brag to my friends about. My heart did not want to settle nor was it comfortable going forward with being in Human Resources or whatever else i decided to do in Management. I wanted everything i did...to glorify Him and His kingdom. So where did this passion come from?! Why did i so long to do youth group in particular?

So...with that said..stay tuned for a Pt 2. of how i got here since i was in youth group ! :)

Do everything in Love, Always~
SK

Week 1 Update

I'm usually horrible at keeping up with blogs so i won't be updating this too frequently~ But for those who want to know what's been going on, but haven't had time to catch up with me, i'll have some of thoughts/what i've learned here.

I've been here since January 9th, spending a great weekend with Jen in the loop in Chicago, IL. It was amazing having her to be with me here in Illinois the first few days~ we definitely enjoyed ourselves with sightseeings, shopping, eating, eating, and oh, eating. :)

Lake Michigan frozen in the back

On the 103rd floor of Willis Tower 

At the Bean in Millenium Park

Living:
It's been a week since i've moved into my dorm, Madsen Hall at Trinity International University in Deerfield Il..No i have not seen any deers yet. Madsen is apartment style/suit style dorms so it's nice having a full kitchen and a bathroom to share with only 3 other girls. My roommate is super nice but not my type..i'm trying to "do everything in love" but she definitely isn't someone i'd hang out with back at home/befriend just because of her personality.

School:
Other than that, classes are great. I'm learning so much already and i've only had classes once or twice.
It's definitely different having professors put God into everything, even in my World Civ class. It's truly a blessing. Also, 32 Chapel sessions are required for full-time students so it's definitely something new. We go in for 50 minutes each mon, wed, & fri and theres worship & a sermon. Pretty traditional but great to be fed almost everyday :)

Community:
People are very sweet here, just praying for discernment with who God wants me to grow with. I noticed that being at a Christian school is great but it doesn't do well with finding my type of people. Back at home, when i meet a christian, that is instantly a connection we have/we can bond through. Being here, everyone is a Christian. Everyone loves Jesus.
Not complaining though! It's amazing knowing that we all can bond through that~ Totally different atmosphere from back home.  But i did learn that people here either came for sports scholarship, parents made them, they've been going to a Christian institution for their whole live (ms/hs), or they really wanted to grow in their relationship with Christ along with the same type of people (aka me & a lot of transfers)

Church:
My brother & I visited 2 churches so far: Hebron & Calvary. They are both Korean-American churches that have an English Ministry. I'm so blessed that i at least have my own family~ my brother here.
We just decided tonight to attend Calvary for now weekly, and hope that we grow/learn a lot from the community.
Calvary's English Ministry consists of young adults, singles, couples, families ranging from ages 22-40's. Its definitely different from New Song because of size and the age, but it was very welcoming and home-feeling. (Miss my newsong fam ! ) I love that they have different ministries and have a lot of fellowship/bible studies. Their worship also had songs that i definitely love worshipping to (Hillsong FTW) :)
They also have a youth group that has more or less of 80 students ! They said they're always looking for helpers so i'm excited to get myself plugged in as well. It will definitely be a huge learning experience for me especially since i want to someday become a Youth Pastor.

So that was a long update of my life so far !
Hope you guys back at home are all doing well~ i miss everyone like cuhrazy...Distance makes the heart grow fonder... :) Please keep in touch. I don't have friends here yet..that i like LOL so i'm always up for skype dates, phone calls, etc. Love y'all.


Do Everything In Love, Always~
SK