A Whale for Christmas

Merry Christmas to All! I think this has been an enjoyable experience being up in Iowa and spending a great time with the family. I am greatly honored to have such an incredible family who loves me so much, and are have great incredible souls. They are wonderful people and have so much potential to be greatly used in the kingdom of God. It is especially truly an honor to watch my siblings develop and walk in their faith.

However, at the end of such a festive weekend. I decided to watch one of my favorite clips in Finding Nemo which is when Dori tries to talk whale. It really reminded me of a couple important spiritual lessons.

1.) Sometimes Life has to be in the Whale. Both Dori and Nemo's Dad where confused about their predicament that lead them to being inside the whale. Life sometimes will takes us to uncomfortable places and we have to learn to trust that things are okay. Nemo's Dad did not feel comfortable and try so hard to get out that it actually created more stress.

2.) We have to listen even more when we are in the "Whale" of life situations. When Dori tells Nemo's Dad that he needs to let go, he asks, "how do you know that it wont be worse? Dori replys, "I don't know." When Nemo's Dad finally lets go, and just let life come at him. It is when things get better.

I have been trying so hard to put effort where effort is not needed, where the best thing for me to do is enjoy what is going on in my life and becoming content with the wonderful blessings that God has given me.

He has given me a great family! Praise the Lord

He has given me a great church family! Praise the Lord

He has given me a great set of friends, accountability friends, and mentors! Praise the Lord

He has given me a great place to live (and a soon to be place to live)! Praise the Lord!

He has given me a great job to work out! Praise the Lord!

Learning to be in the whale of life might be the hardest thing in life to learn, but i am still learning and listening hard for when God asks me to let go!

Led By Him

I think it would be appropriate to share a spiritual devotion I had today. It has been difficult for me to find the fresh fragrance of a devotional life that keep me coming back, but maybe today. I have been taking small bites of reading from various authors such as Erwin McManus, John Piper, Max Lucado, and others. However, it has still not penetrated deep to my heart as much as i had anticipated. However, today i found myself back at scriptures.

Many might think, oh yeah! That is where devotional life should be centered. This is quite the paradox, shouldn't every person who loves Jesus be coming back to scripture! I do use scripture for most of my ethical dilemmas, as well as spiritual decisions. However, my point is that for me i have been so polarized in the idea of trying to read so many books, that i lost interest in reading my bible. Sorry, but true. However, things changed today. I read Psalm 32, and what a blessing it was!

v.1 Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sin is covered. (NIV)

Thank You Lord! Thank you Lord for forgiving my failures. THank you Lord that you see past my selfishness and find mercy to forgive me.

v. 2 Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.

Lord Thank You for being able to give me a fresh new start even after I screw up, and make a mess of such a beautiful thing. It is such a relief to wake up to the spirit's attention, saying to me, "Okay, let's start again! Try to glorify me! Not Ephraim."

v. 4-5 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heart of the summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover it up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord" - and you forgave the guilt of my sin.

What a wonderful blessing! Lord, I don't want to cover my sin. I beckon your spirit to forgive me, and remove the guilt in my life! i have been so apathetic, and lethargic. I have found an excuse upon excuse to allow sin to lay at bay. But Lord please! I ask as your humble servant! I ask that your big arms would push sin off the Island I live on, and may I break out and dance in your name because of your deliverance you bring in my life.

Some devotional thoughts and responses!

The End of 2010

Wow! The year is coming to an end and so much has happened this year.

I found this neat little component on Facebook, which takes all your statuses and put them together. There were some interesting ones from quotes of people who had affected me, to a status about a dear friend who was in the hospital, to me talking about how much i missed Raspberry Lemonade at Cheddars in Joplin, MO.

My life has never been boring, and probably will never be boring. It has been such a rollercoaster of ups and downs that reflecting back on the year is quite exhausting. However, I am still standing, and I have God to thank for that!

I said to him out loud in my apartment today, "I know you are here. I appreciate, you, Spirit, for being there watching me, making sure I am okay, and not running off to do foolish things." It is the spirit who has been there to bandage my spiritual wounds. It is the Spirit who has shouted loud when temptation has stood at the door. It is the Spirit who sends his guardian angels to guard my windows, doors, and protect my car. I might be a poor grad student who lives by himself, but I have the Holy Spirit.

I am currently concerned about my academic success, and have two assignments left to complete. I am in so much desperation that these papers would not jeopardize my ability to go to grad school next year. I was given a purpose 10 years ago to come to America, to be used by Christ. This season has caused me much sorrow, apathy, and pain especially in academics. But even though I have failed a lot this season, I still hear the small voice. The voice of the Shepherd who calls my name, and calls me back to the flock! The shepherd calls me back to the purpose of being in America. I have a purpose to minister to the lives around me, and I can’t get lost in the swirling vortex of sin. I must press on! I must press on to finishing the semester hard.

Therefore as I put all my energy to finish the last leg of this season I pray that God would give me motivation, focus, and energy. I pray that God would allow this month off from school to be a productive, spiritually healthy, serving, and loving month. I want to get this stuff done, with no regrets, putting my full effort into the things I need to accomplish. It is so hard to find motivation, strength, and energy when you do not live in a dorm of 90 guys who are trying to mature in Christ.

However, I did know that the habits I would have in college would carry into my future. I carry a very strong spiritual discipline of getting up early in the morning and spending time with God. I do not want to lose that, and it has been rarely seen since I've lived in this new city.

I look forward to a break from school. I hope I can relinquish that spiritual discipline to the great purpose it had in my life.