Hello friends! After a few days back home in NJ, I’ve been reflecting more about my trip to Southern California. Looking back, I see even more of God’s blessings while out there. I’ll share a few with you.
Primarily, I hear God’s voice by studying the Bible. It can be a little dry at times (especially when in books like Leviticus) but since I know it keeps me safe from deception and discontent, I don’t start my day without Bible reading and prayer. I don’t think I ever missed a single day in the last 15 years.
Very rarely, I wake up to a dream, song or a word. But when I do, I wake up so excited because I know that was God. I received a song in California! The song that I woke up to was not what I expected. It is a popular song from the 80s and based on the Karate Kid movie 2. This movie made a huge impression on me as a teenager because it was the first time I’ve seen an Asian lady as a leading character in an American movie. As I heard the love song again, I realized that our hero is Jesus. He is the one who fights for our honor and is our hero. As the holiday season approaches with the “hallmark-kind” movies about romance and love, please remember that these leading actors are fictional. It is Jesus who is our true love and hero. Jesus is real, and everything about him in the Bible is factual.
Here is the love song. Please listen to the lyrics with Jesus in mind, not Ralph Macchio. 🙂 And if you are younger, please try not to laugh at the music video. Perhaps you should listen to the lyrics without watching the video.
On our last day in San Diego, we visited Balboa Park with their many museums there. We went to the science museum and saw a documentary movie called “Deep Sky”. I highly recommend watching it. I had no idea that NASA launched the most powerful telescope into space in 2021. This documentary is about their journey and some images being captured in galaxies far, far away. Wow. There is one picture in another galaxy’s space that looks like a staff. It reminded me of our Jesus’ staff as our Shepherd. Lead scientist had no clue on how this happened but was super excited to share this picture.
https://www.fleetscience.org/films/deep-sky
After watching this documentary I said to myself, “It’s true! God knows exactly the number of hairs that I have!” At that moment I felt like the video game, Pac Man where I gobbled up a fruit which gave me a lot of bonus points in my faith account.
“Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” – Jesus (in Luke 7:2) https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2012&version=NIV
I’m not sure if you have heard of John Burke’s research on near death experiences (NDE) but if you haven’t, please hear this interview. It was so good. His research is based on 35 years of work interviewing thousands of people who had NDEs. It’ll bring wonder and excitement to those who are in Christ Jesus about our future in the new earth and heaven (read chapter 22 in the book of Revelation).
“My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” – Jesus (in John 14:2-3)
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2014&version=NIV
Sorry to now bring you down to reality of earth, but I think you should listen to this interview with the interim lead pastor, Tim Stevens who was sent by God to restore the megachurch, Willow Creek Church in Chicago. If you are not aware, their charismatic founder and pastor was exposed for many sexual offenses against women. What was harder to take in is that the church leaders and board members sheltered him rather than believe the victims. These leaders all have stepped down. This exposure was awful and scandalous. The reason why I want you to hear this interview is to show you how kind and caring God is to restore His flock. He cares about his people who were distressed and dispersed because of this big scandal. Pastor Tim Stevens shared a lot about Human Resources issues in the megachurch which is always a good practical information to learn and know about.
This Christian journalist’s podcast is more critical about the Willow Creek church scandal but it’s worth hearing from them too. You will learn a lot about the rise of the megachurch in the USA. They point out the flaws and the lack of discipleship in today’s megachurch model.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-roys-report/id1470242499?i=1000737478488
If you ever get disappointed by Christian leaders or friends, please do not allow that to lead you away from the body of Christ, the Church. Stay put or go elsewhere. Never, ever drift away from the church. Also, here’s a good devotional for those of you in a marriage like mine where you are the only believer. Know that your faithfulness brings the blessings and protection to your family.
https://260journey.com/be-careful-who-you-hang-with/
This fall semester revival events happened in many big state universities across America. I have been praying about the local churches being ready to absorb these new young believers. They need discipleship and close guidance for at least three years, in my opinion. Many of them will not have parents or grandparents who can guide them well through the critical early years of their faith journey. We must be praying for ourselves and our churches to get ready and to take them in and be planted in properly.
I haven’t heard any news about NY/NJ/PA universities or my daughter’s university in Indiana experiencing a revival yet. Our college prayer group has been praying for the last four years for IU in Bloomington. I’m sure God will bless our persistent prayers and efforts for IU. She is graduating in a few weeks. My heart and prayers will always linger as a parent alumni for IU. Go Hoosiers!
Here’s a list of universities this fall that have experienced revival events. The harvest is truly ready in the Gen Z!
If you have extra time please hear this interview. I don’t usually hear about healing happening in the Catholic Church community. This gentleman is Catholic and he is being used mightily to bring healing and miracles in the Catholic community. His stories are worth listening to and his insights to learn from. Perhaps you can share this man’s contact with your Catholic friends who need healing.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/heaven-meets-earth/id1806665471?i=1000737038180
At last year’s thanksgiving time, my family received news that my mom was diagnosed with MDS, a form of leukemia (blood cancer). After her grueling chemotherapy treatments this past year, she is now cancer free!! Praise God! Now she only needs a weekly chemo shot with oral medication which is not burdensome. Her strength and stamina are coming back too. Praise Jesus!
When you have a family member who is sick in body, mind or soul; as the key member of your family who is a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, you must bring in many believers to pray for your sick family member. That’s why it’s so important to belong to a local church community and be rooted in. You must be persistent and unbashful about asking for prayers for your family member. I went up often at my church after service and the pastors prayed for my mom. My sister submitted prayer requests at the Times Square Church’s prayer portal online. Once when my mom was in the hospital, I coordinated my prayer co-leader, Mary to pray for my mom over the phone. Why Mary? Because I noticed that she has the gift of faith for healing. Whenever you are coordinating a prayer for healing, if possible please bring in believers who have faith for healing and miracles.
I remember one time I could tell that my mom was getting very depressed. I asked God to give her a dream or a vision to inspire her to persevere in the chemo. She had a dream where her mom and older sister who passed away told her to stay longer on earth because her work is not done yet. My mom was deeply moved by seeing them again. They were her safe people. (Her mom and her sister became devout Christians later in their lives.) After that dream I saw that her fighting spirit came back and she persevered through the chemotherapy with a hopeful attitude. Praise God!
Here is an Instagram video of my Novo prayer group leader, Alex Guthrie and his mom. Out of nowhere, she developed a leak in her pancreas. For three years, she had to wear a bag outside of her body to collect the drainage. For three years, so many people prayed for her healing. Then suddenly, one day she was healed miraculously. Please watch this short video.
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CGfgudDhlQf/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
With someone close to me fighting cancer, this oncologist’s journey to faith caught my attention. It was a very good testimony.
“Few questions weigh heavier on the human heart than death. Is there anything beyond this life? How do we face death without fear?
Dr. Stephen Iacoboni has wrestled with these questions every day for more than forty years as a medical oncologist. Once a committed scientific atheist, he sought answers in medicine, science, and humanism—only to find them insufficient in the face of mortality. Through the witness of his patients and the growing cracks in naturalistic explanations, Dr. Iacoboni came to embrace faith in God, discovering a hope that transforms both life and death.In this conversation, he shares his journey from childhood faith to scientific atheism, through years of treating patients at death’s door, to finally returning to belief in Jesus Christ. Along the way, he examines the failures of naturalism, the role of science, and the undeniable human longing for meaning that points to something greater.”
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ex-skeptic/id1534623418?i=1000735682422
When we work for the Lord and His Church, I remember Billy Graham, the world’s most famous evangelist said that we will be rewarded in heaven. I remember saying to God when I heard that, “God, it’s like you are telling me, a middle schooler to put their money away for retirement. I hope you know it’s not very motivating.” I must have grown up spiritually. Now I really believe this and motivated by it too. So wherever the Holy Spirit places you in, please do your best to serve God’s people in your church and community. You are accruing rewards in heaven for all of eternity.
Please pray about doing communion at home for yourself with grape juice and some bread. I started doing this about two months ago after praying about it. I noticed in the news that there seems to be so many potent viruses, and bacterial infections out there that are drug resistant these days. Plus there are many foods and produce being recalled in the places that I shop at because of listeria contamination. I’ve seen even medications being recalled due to contamination too. As I was worried about these things and praying, I felt that I should do holy communion at home. By the way, I strongly recommend that if you are not a believer or if you are living in a manner that is contrary as a believer; then you should not be doing holy communion until you become saved, or repent and get your life and relationships back into obedience in Christ. I get that warning from reading this chapter in Corinthians.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2011%3A17-34&version=NIV
It’s a little more complicated, so please read this good article and background about the Corinthian church and Apostle Paul’s writings on taking communion in an unworthy way so you don’t incur God’s discipline. And if you do, just run to Jesus for forgiveness and mercy!
https://www.gotquestions.org/take-communion-unworthily.html
When you study the Bible a lot like I do, then you’ll discover that it’s much more than a book of comfort, history and God’s principles for life and relationships. There’s so much prophecies in there too. I attached a sheet that I got at a church that I visited in California. The pastor put together Bible references predicting about Jesus Christ and fulfilled.
The Bible is a supernatural book that God gave to humanity so that we can know and believe Him. Our faith is based upon facts and proven evidence. There are so many more prophecies in the Bible that are yet to be fulfilled, including Revelation 22.
Make sure that you say “yes” to Jesus Christ before you die. If you say “yes” sooner than you will be placed into a global faith family, have an adventurous life on earth, and you will accrue rewards for all of eternity for any work you do for Jesus Christ. Here is Revelation 22. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2021&version=NIV
I threw a lot of information out there. God bless you abundantly as you study His Word and live your life for Jesus Christ and His glory.
Journal of Faith 