Attitude check

I admit that when it comes to Christian music my personal preference is definitely hymns. In a previous post I've expressed my sentiments. I also admit that my attitude during some worship services or congregational singing has crossed over from being discerning to being critical or even judgmental.

I find this article by Bob Kauflin very helpful.

I can use my ability to discern as a means of exalting myself. “Look at everything I noticed!” I can think that not singing a certain song makes me more spiritual, or look disparagingly at those who sing it. Unfortunately, I have been wrong about things I’ve “discerned” so many times, I lost count years ago. God simply asks us, “What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?” (1Cor. 4:7) If my discernment IS right, I should thank God and remember that He sees infinitely more than I do...

That doesn’t mean I can’t ask questions, offer observations, or engage in fruitful dialogue with a leader. If I happen to BE a leader, I have a responsibility to point out inconsistencies, inaccuracies, or potential error in songs. But I never have to do it in a way that makes it sound like I know everything, or that I understand everything, or that my knowledge makes me more pleasing than others in the sight of God.

In our pursuit of pleasing God, let’s be committed to passionately defending biblical truth with personal holiness and humility. It’s a good indicator that we’re seeking to exalt the Savior rather than our own opinions.

Read the full article here.

Parents appreciation day

The other day I was sharing with a coworker about a phone conversation I had with my dad. My coworker's comment reminded me how wise my dad is. As I get older I realize more and more how blessed I am to have such godly, wise and loving parents. Even today as I was talking to my roommate I was reminded again what a tremendous gift my parents are from God. It could be a Chinese thing, that while my parents and I are very close, we don't talk on the phone a lot, maybe once a week at most. But everytime I walk away from our phone conversation feeling spiritually recharged. Their counsel always draws me back to the Scripture. They are ever quick to remind me to trust in God, to wait for Him, to be faithful in doing His work, to seek first His kingdom and righteousness. That's basically their advice for every circumstance I bring before them. But how true is it that we are to trust in God, to wait for Him, to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness whatever circumstance we are in!

This godly wisdom they display, I believe, is in part the result of a life filled with trials. Through their trials and their weaknesses God's sufficient grace is evidently shown. As Paul said in 2 Corinthians 1:8-9, "For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead." and again in 4:7, "But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us." That's the fruit I see in my parents' life, humble trust in and reliance upon God.

I don't express my appreciation and my love for my parents enough. That's another Chinese thing, we are not very verbal about our feelings. But I do love my parents very much, and I thank God for them everyday.

In the Secret of His Presence

In the secret of His presence
How my soul delights to hide!
Oh, how precious are the lessons
Which I learn at Jesus' side!
Earthly cares forever vex me,
All my trials lay me low;
But when Satan comes to tempt me,
To that secret place I go,
To that secret place I go.

When my soul is faint and thirsty,
'Neath the shadow of His wings
There is cool and pleasant shelter,
And a fresh and crystal spring;
And my Savior rests beside me,
As we hold communion sweet.
If I tried, I could not utter
What He says when thus we meet,
What He says when thus we meet.

Only this I know
I tell Him all my doubts, my griefs and fears;
Oh, how patiently He listens!
And my sorrowed soul He cheers.
Do you think He ne'er reproves me?
What a false friend He would be,
If He never, never told me
Of the sin which He must see,
Of the sin which He must see.

Would you like to know the sweetness
Of the secret of the Lord?
Go and hide beneath His shadow.
This shall then be your reward;
And whene'er you leave the silence
Of that happy meeting place,
You will surely bear the image
Of the Master in your face,
Of the Master in your face.

(Words by Ellen Goreh, 1883)

What a beautiful picture of abiding, remaining, resting in Christ, my Lord and my Savior! Would you like to taste the sweetness of communion with Him? Would you like to find that cool and pleasant shelter underneath His wings? Would you like to know the sweetness of the secret of the Lord? Come meet with Him in His Word, where He cheers us, delivers us, teaches us, quenches our thirst, reproves us, speaks to us, and transforms us. Come meet with Him in His Word, the happy meeting place where we will leave bearing the image of the Master in our face.

I sought the Lord, and He answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to Him are radiant,
and their faces shall never be ashamed.
This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him
and saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and delivers
them.

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!
Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints,
for those who fear Him have no lack!
The young lions suffer want and hunger;
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

(Psalm 34:4-10)

Timid walker

I have no deep and introspective reflection to share today, simply an observation about life in Louisville. I noticed that I've become a timid walker. In fact, I don't walk nearly as much as I should now. Back in Vancouver, I used to walk everywhere, to the bank, Safeway (grocery store), the shops on 10th Ave., the beach, sometimes even to school (UBC). And I loved taking walks in the forest near my house. And yes, pedestrians have the complete right of way! Sidewalks are incomparable, too! Vancouver is perhaps pedestrians' paradise.

Alas! Being in Louisville, I now drive everywhere. I drive to the bank, the mall (which is completely ridiculous, it's not even a 2-minute drive), school, grocery stores, everywhere. And I don't take walks anymore. For one, I can't find a forest with walking trails here in the 'Ville. And more importantly, there's barely any sidewalks!! What's the deal with that? I tried taking a walk the other day, I either almost got hit by cars because I was walking on the street, or I almost stepped doggie's brownie because I had to walk on grass. Oh yes, people here may ask, "Right of way for pedestrians? What's that?" One thing I learned quickly after moving here is that never just step out on the street if I want to cross the street alive. I've become a very timid walker.

How are you doing today?

Lately whenever people ask me that question I always have to take at least a few seconds to think about my answer. I don't want to give a shallow "fine, thanks". Sometimes I'm really not fine, thanks. But sometimes I'm more than fine. Sometimes I can hardly contain the joy of knowing and experiencing God's grace in my life. More often than not I would say "I'm okay, thanks". Let me expound on that a little.

C.J. Mahaney likes to respond to that question with "better than I deserve". That is certainly how I feel most of the time. Over the past two years God has turned my life upside down. One after another He has brought situations into my life, for His glory and most certainly for my good. And I thank God for these trying times, which certainly feel like trials at times. God has stripped me of things I used to hold dear, things and persons I used to lean on. He has taken one thing/person after another, so that my only choice is to realize that He alone is my strength, my stronghold. I have the habit of building idols in my heart, of making people, including myself, my idols. I was just like Gomer, Hosea's extremely adulterous wife. I looked everywhere else for satisfaction, to have my "needs" (more accurately called "lusts of the heart") fulfilled. I left my God, my first love, to go after other lovers, thinking that they can fulfill my heart's desires, they can supply me with what I need. But it has been God who has been sustaining me all along, who has been keeping me from greater sin (as if the sins I've committed against Him were not grave enough). And now that He has saved me from the dominion of darkness and has made me a branch that is connected to Christ, God the Father has been pruning my life to yield more fruit.

Pruning is not a fun and light process. My sinful nature does not like to be pruned by God. So while being pruned or chastised, my flesh hurts and my pride is crushed. I honestly cannot say "I'm good" while going through trials which I know is God pruning me. I feel like crap (that might be an unChristian word to use) when my fleshly lusts and selfish ambitions are being denied. But I know and I truly believe that everything is happening exactly as God has planned and He is allowing things to pass to mold me into more Christlike submission and obedience to Him.

When I say "I'm okay, thanks", I mean that I'm a sinner saved by grace alone. I'm a forgiven sinner still struggling with sin in the flesh. I'm a saved sinner seeking to please my Lord with whatever I do, say and think, but constantly falling flat on my face. I'm a justified sinner in the process of being pruned, chastised, and sanctified, who still has a long way to go. I'm a sinner truly thankful for trials, who almost wants to ask for trials when times are smooth-sailing, for they have been God's means of grace of keeping me humble before Him and ever dependent upon Him. Who would've ever thought that we could be thankful for trials?