Confidence

Confident that I will love,
Confident that I will extend grace,
Confident that I will be humble and teachable,
Confident that I will persevere,
Confident that I will grow,

not because I find confidence in myself,

but because our Lord is faithful to the end.

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

"Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word"

Have Mercy on Me

I am super excited that our praise team will be introducing Sovereign Grace Music's "Have Mercy on Me" as a part of our Sunday worship set. To the congregation: get familiar with the song. Meditate on the lyrics. Praise God that He shows mercy to to undeserving sinners who come with a broken and a contrite heart.

Verse 1 
I am a sinner; You’re blameless, Lord 
My sins against You can’t be ignored 
They will be punished, I know they must 
Your law demands it, for You are just 

Pre-Chorus 
If You would count 
Everything that I’ve done wrong 
Who could stand? 
But there’s forgiveness with You, God 

Chorus 
Have mercy on me, have mercy on me 
A broken and a contrite heart 
You won’t turn away 
Have mercy on me, have mercy on me 
Because of Your steadfast love 

Verse 2
Father of mercy, You gave Your Son 
To make atonement for wrongs I have done 
What You required, Jesus fulfilled 
I don’t deserve it—I never will

May Happenings

Our office is getting our roof redone, so we've been exposed to the smell of roofing tar all day. The smell is pretty bad that most of the people in our office left because of headaches. So here I am with no work to do and a brain that is filling up with tar fumes. Wonderful.

So here goes the blogging. And pardon me if this post is full of ramblings. Tar-fumed Head = Bad Headache. I know I've neglected this blog for a while. I think for many of us, there are so many things we'd want to write in here. There are several posts saved as drafts, but I don't know what it is about never completing them. Okay, laziness. 

Anyway, I am in a season of life where big decisions must be made! Emotions have been bipolar to the nth degree the past couple of weeks, just thinking of the possible changes that will be happening within the next few months. I'm so good at that: dwelling on the things that aren't true. This is why I have Philippians 4:8 memorized to constantly go back to during times like these.

Finally brothers, whatever is true, what is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

So what better way to dwell on the true things than to be filled with His word! The past few weeks in the word have been super sweet. Well, every day should be sweet, but God is gracious to challenge me to apply what's written in Scripture. 

Acts 21:19-24

You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house, solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, behold, bound by the Spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me. But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.

I don't know what's going to happen to me in the next few months. I don't even know what tomorrow will bring me (James 4:13-15). But I will be faithful to what God has called me to do: follow Him, not to live for myself, and to make disciples of Christ. It does not matter if bonds and afflictions will come my way in whatever decision I make. Those fears should not dictate my decision making. Because it is by the grace of God that I am saved, a miracle in itself that ought to drive me to spread the gospel to others. 

Anyway, that's just something I wanted to share. I'm probably ending this on an incomplete note, but I'm going to look for some work to do. 

from Bob Kauflin's "Worship Matters"

‎"The Great God values not the service of men, if the heart be not in it: The Lord sees and judges the heart; he has no regard to outward forms of worship, if there be no inward adoration, if no devout affection be employed therein. It is therefore a matter of infinite importance, to have the whole heart engaged steadfastly for God"

-Isaac Watts

January-February, in photos

Ladies Book Club -our 1st discussion of 2012!

celebrating the berfday at the park w/Sonny boy.

witnessing lovely Keziah marry Nathan! 1st wedding for Blush&Braids of 2012!

Peerow Talking with Babycat

nearby work buddies on a lunch date at Azuki Sushi!

matching w/Miss Clara! we both forgot to smile.

cafe bassam w/Meemers! i've been going here once a week. good place to get some reading done =)

making encouragement cards with the Small Group

dress fitting with M's Bridal Party

Happy Birthday, Unni!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY UNNI! If you see her today, please wish her a Happy Birthday! My sister is an incredible woman. She's someone I've looked up to since childhood (even during her rebellious phase). I remember thinking all the new things she would say, do, or have were super cool, like "nincompoop," spitting ice into her cup and saying"Pttooey! Ten Points for Jenny!" (taken from Gaston song in Beauty & the Beast), buying different kinds of skater shoes and me stealing a pair on days she doesn't wear them, videotaping her own Comedy Shows with friends, having a DJ Dance Birthday Party that I wasn't even invited to, etc, etc. My sister's soooo cool, right? ;) But really, she's the best older sister I could ask for. When God saved her in college, His Spirit did amazing things to transform her heart. She is someone who truly fears the Lord. She is shameless in lovingly pointing things out to others if they're not walking right with God. She loves and is fiercely loyal to her family (both Shin & Hasegawa). My heart is filled with gratitude because God provided a sister who points me back to the Savior & reminds me to not be of this world. You are a blessing to me!

Follow Christ

"It'll be hard to understand why [things turn out the way they do], but what is that to you? Focus on following Christ" -N

This was the exhortation I needed to hear. I am thankful for this sister who cares to address the condition of my heart.

²² Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!”

John 21:22

Rainy Day

Because Everyone Else Is

I received a text from my brother on Saturday. When I get a txt notification, my phone will show a snippet of the text & who the sender is. So when I checked my phone it said...

Hans: Caro, I found you a potential...
(oh no. not another setup from a family member)

I braved myself enough to view the entire text message.

Hans: Caro, I found you a potential husband: he's tall, athletic, chinese, smart (harvard grad), and most important of all, a Christian. His name is Jeremy
Hans: Lin
Hans: :)

This is the first suggestion I don't mind.

Fond Memory 1

As I was reading through Mark 11 today, the passage reminded me of a time (~13 years ago) when my dad, little sister, and I were playing outside in the backyard. We have quite a few palm trees in our backyard, and a couple of their leafy branches fell on the ground. My dad told my little sister and I to each pick one up. He explained Jesus' triumphal entry where Jesus was riding on a horse, and those around him had leafy branches and were shouting, "Hosanna in the highest!" as Jesus walked by.

I think Aileen and I really enjoyed the story. I remember us lifting up those branches up and down, repeatedly singing, "Hosanna! Hosanna!"

⁶ And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go. ⁷ And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. ⁸ And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. ⁹ And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! ¹⁰ Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!”
Mark 11:6-10

Though I didn't really know what it meant at the time, I'm so blessed that my dad would talk to my siblings and me often about Scripture. Now having a relationship with Christ, I am thankful to personally and joyfully say, "Hosanna in the Highest!" Piper couldn't have said it better:

So when we sing "Hosanna" now, let's make it very personal. Let's make it our praise and our confidence. The Son of David has come. He has saved us from guilt and fear and hopelessness. Salvation! Salvation belongs to our God and to the Son! Hosanna! Hosanna in the highest!

San Francisco Photomemories

Perfect

Like a river glorious is God’s perfect peace,
Over all victorious, in its bright increase;
Perfect, yet it floweth fuller every day,
Perfect, yet it groweth deeper all the way.

Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest
Finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest.

Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand,
Never foe can follow, never traitor stand;
Not a surge of worry, not a shade of care,
Not a blast of hurry touch the spirit there.

Every joy or trial falleth from above,
Traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love;
We may trust Him fully all for us to do;
They who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true.