Remembering His Works

"I will remember the deeds of the Lord;

yes, I will remember your wonders of old.

I will ponder all your work,

and meditate on your mighty deeds." Psalm 77:11-12

Today I was able to share my trip to Rwanda with some good friends with pictures and stories, and I was again reminded of the faithfulness of the Lord. Its funny looking back at something so significant and remembering the lessons and experiences as if they were far removed from me, sort of an objective teaching lesson. But today God graciously brought back many vivid memories of people in Rwanda that affected my life more than they will know. 

I was also incredibly blessed by a sister in the Lord who shall remain nameless :) And most who read this will not know who I am speaking of, but this sister acted in such a way that showed Christ to me so profoundly. Praise God :)

This is a picture Candy took while a few students and I were worshipping the Lord. An amazing experience of cross culture/language/country giving glory to the same God

My evening class. I love this picture because we all fell right after the picture was taken:)

On the last day of classes, my student wrote and read a poem in front of the whole class for me. It meant so much that he read it to everyone and sharing it with my friends today brought back so much appreciation for it. God was so gracious for using me in others' lives. Praise Him!

No matter where, no matter when

We are together

In spite of space, in spite of time

We are together

You leave our country, not our mind

You leave our sight, not our heart

We are together!

Just we will cry, when you take a fly

For its hard to leave the people you love

That's right you'll make everyone cry

Anywhere you leave because you're irreplaceable

Best at work we liked you most

Let us this time tell you all our thanks

You've done a lot

May God bless your plans

May you have a wonderful fly

Bye-bye

Fundraiser Dinner

Last night was our team's Fundraiser Dinner. It went really well and the Lord provided so much! It actually went a lot better than I was anticipating. Anthony, Dr. Mooney, Brandon, and Becca spoke about our purpose there, what we're going to do, and how God is providing today. We had a great dinner and one amazing dessert. We raised a good amount of money for the team, and God is continuing to provide!

Anthony speaking...

Brandon talking about what we're going to be doing while in "Southeast Asia"

Becca speaking about what she's learned thus far

My reaction when Anthony forgot my name while he was introducing the team. Thanks bud! :-)

Please keep us in your prayers as we prepare to serve in this country. May God sanctify us as individuals and as a team. I know I definitely need a new perspective to succeed in this endeavor. Also, finals start this week. 'nough said?

I'm in the mood for frozen yogurt...

In Christ Alone

This past week I've been realizing (again?) just how much I must rely on Christ alone. He has reminded me that He is the source of everything. He is the best provider, the best comforter, the best Father, the best friend, etc. I cannot look to man to fulfill these roles. I must instead look to God to meet all my needs.

In Christ Alone

In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my
strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights
of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when
strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in
the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took
on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of
love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to
save
‘Till on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath
of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live

There in the
ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave He
rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s
curse has lost it’s grip on me
For I am His and He is
mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of
Christ in me
From life’s first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No power of hell, or scheme of
man
Could ever pluck me from His hand
‘Till He
returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ
I’ll stand

Where My Faith Lies

"...that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God." - 1 Corinthians 2:5

It seems to me that I am always in a battle of where to place my faith. On one hand, I have the world declaring that I should be a certain person, embrace certain things, and walk a certain way. And at first glance, it may appear valid. After all, its what my "heart" wants, right? Its what my natural man would do, without any influence from the Spirit of God. Is that not the pinnacle of man's goals, to fulfill all desires one might have and in that find happiness? At the very least this is what we are told by the 'wisdom of man'. 

Yet in myself (not because it is there naturally, but because the Sovereign God has placed it there) I find a better wisdom. Wisdom far beyond the wisdom of man, for "the foolishness of God is wiser than men" and in it, the power of God. The power of God to save sinners like myself from walking in the lusts of the flesh and the futility of sin. This power is displayed when, walking with Him, I see to the right and to the left former things that my flesh would have me grab hold of and for an instant I am almost fooled into believing these things to be good. Yet the power of God and the wisdom of God has taught me otherwise. 

By His grace, we are able to shut out the world's voice. Our faith does not have to come from the wisdom of men, and indeed it cannot. Instead let it rest in the power of God, who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work within us. If this is able to save a sinner like me, surely it can save the lowest of men. 

...I'm off to do physics. See you all soon :)

One Fine Day

Yesterday, Michael and I were able to go up into the hills by La Sierra and finish a project that Aaron was a part of a few months ago. This project was very important to us, but unfortunately we were not able to finish it because it got really dark and we had to go to Jen's b-day party. Mike and I never forgot it, though, so here is what happened yesterday:

If you want to see pics of the first try, I put some up in a previous post. It was the biggest rock that we rolled down the hill :) Mike and I were so proud, we felt like doing victory dances. Instead, we went and had a fattening victory dinner. Good enough. 

Spring break has been very productive. I'm almost done with the book I need to read for Minorities in America, and I'm really enjoying it. The Lord this past week has really been impressing on me the importance of living with intention - as per Dr. Mooney's message last Sunday. It really hit a string with me. Thank God that He pushes us into holiness, allowing our flesh to die and our spirit to live. May the Lord put an end to any dominion my flesh has over me! 

School and Such

I decided I needed to include more pictures to make my posts more interesting, so hopefully the pictures will do just that :) I have a lot of fun at school even though it can be stressful, so here's a glimpse of it:

This is a trip to Disneyland where Kim and I found an official Disney hobo. It was incredibly odd to see a homeless looking man sleeping on the bench not because I don't see it a lot but because it was in a park that costs $60 just to get in. After Disney security asked him to refrain from lying down on main street, he left without incidence :)

This is what we do in O Chem lab when we're waiting for something to boil, evaporate, crystallize, etc. Pretty entertaining if you ask me.

This is kinda what we look like when we're actually working :) Here I think we are waiting for our product to crystallize. I think we got a pretty good product (Methyl 3-nitrobenzoate)

In other news, Team S.F. (ask me later if you don't know what that means - probably not a good idea to say that on the internet!) meets for the first time this Thursday to prepare for our trip this summer. I'm excited about meeting regularly, it will give the trip a more formed shape in my mind of what we'll be doing. Even if that isn't accomplished, it will be good to get to know each other more as a team. Check back for more updates on how that is coming along and what we could use prayer for. Hopefully I'll be posting more on how God is preparing me for the trip because He definitely is. Until then, 

Auf Wiedersehen

Condemned Not to Sin Not

"Has no one condemned you?"

"No one, Lord"

"Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more."