Hello friends! I pray all is well with you and your families. For those of you who joined our group recently – briefly, what started out as friendly reminders for weekly prayer meetings have evolved into my weekly newsletter. About three years ago, I finally accepted that God has given me a ministry and that I better take it seriously.
I believe that I hear from the Holy Spirit throughout the week to share ‘this and that’ in order to help you in your faith journey, or to answer questions about our faith in Jesus Christ and various issues in the Christian community. Perhaps my experiences and perspectives help you if you also are the first person in your family to be a follower of Jesus Christ.
I grew up with no religion or traditions once we moved to the USA at age 8. I am not sure why my parents didn’t get involved with a Korean church like many Korean immigrants did in our area to preserve their heritage and culture. Because of this void of religion and freedom of choice, I thought a lot about all kinds of religions without intimidation or fear. Like a good shopper, I did my research and more research. Eventually after many studies and explorations later, I came back to Christianity. It really is the best out there! There’s no other that even comes close to what we receive back in this super short life, and for all of eternity! So if you are confused, discouraged or disappointed DO NOT GIVE UP!
I noticed that Buddha statues are en vogue. I keep seeing them everywhere in places that I visit and shop at. My dad’s family were Buddhist according to my mom. I didn’t know them much at all. I understand the appeal of Buddhist temples and teachings. It looks very holy and peaceful. Before you jump into it, please listen to this young lady’s story. She grew up in a very devout Buddhist family and so she’ll tell you the gist of its founder, history, beliefs about suffering, karma, this earthly life and the afterlife. Here’s her incredible story and the reasons why she chose Jesus Christ in 2023.
“Alice Tran was born and raised in a deeply Buddhist family. In fact, she comes from generations of Buddhists on both sides of her family. But then, she was struck by lightning, and her world got turned upside down.”
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/radical-revelations/id1888511250?i=1000767613626
Any religion will require discipline and sacrifice from their devout followers. For the Christians, I came to realize that God wants us to reflect Him and do His work on this earth. We are His ambassadors. Please read this excellent article about God and holiness. This portion stands out to me.
“Between your conversion and your homegoing, the focus of God’s redeeming work is on radical personal transformation. Therefore, when you embark on a quest to be holy as God is holy, you are committing yourself to make God’s purpose for you your purpose.”
https://billygraham.org/decision-magazine/articles/what-does-holiness-look-like
(Just being honest here – there are times when I am thankful that our earthly longevity is about 80-90 years. 😅 Whatever or whoever God chooses to use to transform His children to be holy and humble, does it really matter?)
And if you are wondering why holiness in us is so important to God, I believe it is so that we can be powerful intercessors and ambassadors to usher in His will and good intentions on earth. We can even do the works that Jesus did during His ministry. I believe to hold that kind of power and influence without self-destruction, requires continual holiness and humility.
As I’ve been living life as a disciple of Jesus Christ for the past 15 years, I sometimes struggle with being harsh and insensitive. I am aware of this nature, and so I really appreciated the sermon series on Jonah by Pastor Tim Keller. When I looked up when he preached this sermon series, he started it the Sunday before 9-11. In this message that I’m highlighting, he talked about the whys of reaching a city. It was excellent. This one was delivered in October 2001. (If you want to hear it from the beginning, just go to this podcast link and scroll to a few before.)
Revival News:There are many good reports of revivals happening, even in Belarus! 🇧🇾 Wow. 😮 I know a few people from Belarus who cannot visit their home country because they fear being arrested. This is a miracle! Wow. Please pray for Belarus. http://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/cwn/2026/may/its-a-miracle-31-000-flock-to-franklin-graham-event-in-biggest-belarus-evangelistic-rally-ever
This is about old-time tent revivals happening across the USA. Wow. http://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2026/may/america-is-hungry-hundreds-born-again-and-baptized-as-jesus-tent-revival-sweeps-the-nation
High schoolers turn to Jesus at UniteUS revival event in Ohio. Praise the Lord Jesus! http://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2026/may/hundreds-of-high-schoolers-turn-to-jesus-at-uniteus-event-in-columbus-freed-from-suicide-and-shame
Times Square church in NYC is going to put up a billboard in the Times Square area broadcasting Jesus Christ and the good news. Wow. Please keep this church and their huge project in your prayers too.
I used to wonder why God didn’t lead me to TSC when I graduated college and started to work in NYC in early 1997. I really needed a TSC type of church. I would have gotten involved right away too. Then when I heard Pastor Tim talk about the great church uprising against the founding pastor David Wilkerson in 1996 to oust him, I see why I wasn’t led to TSC. I learned about TSC in 2011 from my sister, and I have been listening to them every week since then. God answered one of my whys this week. Praise God!
This is the TSC message that I heard where I learned about their church’s division history. The sermon mainly is about the huge mistake made by King David once he became powerful. He really messed up big time with his love for attractive women. Perhaps attractive people are not your temptation but the enemy knows what you are lured away by. The more you are aware of your weaknesses and educated about what traps you, the safer you will be when you are tempted unexpectedly.
http://sermons.tsc.nyc/god-did-that-and-you-did-what/
Lately when the news and reports are bad; I would softly mutter “Maranatha.” It brings peace and stability into me, and reminds me of our glorious future with Jesus Christ for all eternity. Next time a need, news or an event brings anxiety into your heart, try saying “Maranatha.” If you have never heard this word before, here is a short article about it.
https://www.gotquestions.org/maranatha.html
Here’s Cece Winans singing a song about it. The lyrics and melody are so beautiful and soothing. (Also read the comments below the song. It’ll lift your heart too.)
https://youtu.be/Lq4PXLxTuVU?si=mTyCe8KKWd2I77WS
One last thing, here is Billy Graham Evangelistic Association’s 50 days of prayer for all states in the USA. 🇺🇸 Please pray with these pastors across America. Each prayer is only about 2-3 minutes long. They are very good prayers for our country. https://billygraham.org/one-nation-under-god/arkansas
That’s about it for this week. With much prayer and in the love of Jesus Christ 🙏❤️
(I shared these Bible verses with my prayer group if you want to use them in your personal prayers too.)
Suggested scriptures to use in our prayers and intercession this week:
* The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge… — Proverbs 1:7
*The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out— Proverbs 18:15
*Let the wise hear and increase in learning…— Proverbs 1:5
*If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives generously…— James 1:5
*Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men. — Colossians 3:23
*Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings. — Proverbs 22:29
*The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance…— Proverbs 21:5
*All your children will be taught by the Lord… In righteousness you will be established. – Isaiah 54:13–14
*How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity. – Psalm 133:1
*My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations. – Isaiah 56:7
*They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. – Acts 2:42
*After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. – Acts 4:31
*So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. – Ephesians 4:11–13
Journal of Faith 