A Blessed Retreat

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And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone...(Matthew 14:23 ESV)

This past Friday, I had to go on a retreat for my Spiritual Vocation's class. It was one day of withdrawing from the world of internet, school papers, homework, ministry, people, facebook, phones, and work. The purpose of the retreat was to reflect and enjoy God's goodness. The retreat took place at the beautiful Hilltop Renewal Center (http://hilltoprenewal.org) in Idyllwild, CA. I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT. It was a beautiful three-story house with wonderful people, BOOKS, and God's beautiful creation. In my room, there was a painting of Jesus washing Peter's feet; which I felt that I was being served by God the whole time there. I got to walk up some trails, sing some praise songs, read a couple books in the library, nap, eat great food, and ENJOY GOD!

Here are some things I am thankful to God for as I was reflecting:

  • God's creation
  • God's majesty
  • Rest in Naps
  • Recreational Reading at the Hilltop Library
  • God's acceptance of me in Christ, for he loved me while I was a sinner and has given me a new identity in Christ
  • Standing in awe of God as the Creator of the stars
  • The Cross
  • God's attributes, especially the fact that he is incomprehensible
  • Him saving me in college
  • Wonderful Church Family
  • God working through my brokenness
  • God delivering me from myself and my idols
  • God always being there for me
  • Providing me with a beautiful godly girlfriend
  • Providing me with the opportunity to study at Talbot
  • Providing me with a home, clothes, and food
  • and many more....
All these undeserved blessings were blood bought for me at Calvary. I love you Lord Jesus. Thank you for letting me enjoy you this Friday. Help me walk in the light and my new identity in you. I love you Lord, help me be faithful because you first loved me. In Jesus Name, Amen.

A Crazy Week

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This week is going to be so crazy. I am teaching at Wednesday Prayer meeting, Sunday School, and Preaching on Sunday. My greek exam is next tuesday and my two of my philosophy papers are due next week. I feel so overwhelmed! But the Lord reminds me that I should not be anxious about tomorrow, for each day has enough of its own troubles (Matt. 6:33-34).


I am so excited to preach on Sunday. I need to really be dependent on the Spirit of God this week (which I should be dependent on him always) because I am standing before God declaring his all-powerful word. Who am I? I just want to please God. I just want to be happy in Jesus. I just want to lift up the savior and the glorious gospel. The gospel is so glorious, the reality that Jesus has conquered my sin through the cross and has given me a new life through the resurrection by the power of the Holy Spirit. The reality of the Coming of the Lord and the restoration of all things because of the promises of God's goodness in Jesus Christ: the death, burial, and resurrection of the Son of God (1 Cor. 15:3-5).

Father in Heaven,
Please help me. I just want to please you. You have already given me everything I need in your Son. I just ask you that you would use me, because I'm weak and scared. I don't want to be preaching for the praise of man, but only for your glory. Please work this weekend in your church by the power of the Holy Spirit. Please do miracles. The greatest miracle you performed was the Resurrection of your Son. Please do miracles of the new birth this weekend. Please cause your saints to be refreshed in the gospel. Please cause my heart to labor and preach in love (1 Cor. 13). Help me marvel at your glory and see your greatness in your son. I love you and my heart's desire is to please you. Please rid me of all my sin and sinful desires! May my meditation be pleasing in your sight, my Lord, Rock, and Redeemer. I need your grace this week and everyday Lord. Help me be satisfied in you alone. Whom do I have in heaven besides thee O Lord? There is nothing on earth that I want except you. Only you can satisfy my thirsty soul. I love you God. I thank you for what your doing in my life. I thank you for your lavish grace that I do not deserve. I thank you that you loved me when I was unlovable. I thank you for your Son Jesus Christ. I thank you for my hope in Jesus Christ. I thank you that you conquer evil and will conquer evil. Open our eyes Lord and cause a season of refreshing. We are so lukewarm and we need you Lord. I don't want to settle for average, but excellence and the glory of your name. May your glory shine and MAY NEVER BE GIVEN TO ANOTHER. Hide me and keep me from the evil one.

In the Name of my Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.

I'm FREE!!

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"Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God" Romans 7:4


I love the gospel. I love God's reconciling work. I love that my God came to this earth in the person of His Son to die a bloody death for me. I love that I was a condemned sinner, but Christ came to be condemned for me. I love that I am no longer a slave to the power of sin, but I am a slave to Christ, enslaved now to righteousness, leading to eternal life. I love that I am raised with the resurrected Christ. I love that I am a child of God. I love that I am declared righteous before the Heavenly Father because my Lord Jesus lives! I LOVE THE GOSPEL!!

Christ Finishes It All

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" The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil" 1 John 3:8

Through the death of Christ, I have been crucified along with him with my old sinful nature. I have a new life with Jesus Christ, to walk in the light as He is in the light. I am called from darkness into his marvelous light. Called to be free. Called to be holy. Called to be a co-heir with Christ.

Father,
Help me believe these precious promises that I might partake in the divine nature. Keep my eyes fixed upon you above all else. Help me seek your kingdom first and your righteousness. And when I stray, I pray your Holy Spirit would hit me with the rod of discipline to get me back on track. I love you Lord. You are my portion. Only you can satisfy my finite heart. I want to stand in awe of you. I want the whole earth to be filled with the glory of the Lord, your righteousness, your justice, your mercy, your grace. Protect this feeble sheep who needs your guidance daily.

In Jesus Name,
Amen.

Reflections on Leviticus

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Leviticus is one of the hardest books of the Bible to read devotionally, but I am actually enjoying it. The main theme I see in this book is that God is holy and his people are suppose to be holy. I am reminded of the bloody sacrifices that took place in front of the tent of the meeting. The animals were slaughtered in front of the congregation and burned up before the Lord as an pleasing aroma. God would not allow anything unholy or undefiled touch his presence. His wrath would consume the people if they did not present the sacrifice of atonement. Moreover, the priests needed to be consecrated properly before the Lord. Aaron's sons even died because they did not revere the Lord. I am reminded once again how I need to live a holy life, and that is only possible through the blood of the true lamb of God, Jesus Christ. I can enter God's holy presence because the blood of Jesus has made a way for me. Sanctify me completely Lord, body, soul, and mind. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Devotional Reflections

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1. Love the Family of God

"Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity" 1 Tim. 5:1-2

God has given me countless mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers at CFBC. I need to love them and honor them and provide for them.

2. Love my family

"But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially the members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever" 1 Tim 5:8

My Christian testimony should not be inconsistent. Who I am at home, should be who I am at church, work, and school. I should care for my brother, mother, and father.

3. Love my Pastor

"Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching" 1 Tim. 5:17

I need to honor Pastor Ed. I need to encourage him and thank him for "ruling well." How can I honor him better in a way that glorifies God?

4. Love my Boss

"Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved" 1 Tim 6: 2

I need to go above and beyond at the workplace, especially because my bosses are believers. I should do everything to promote the well being of the businesses I work at. I should be a blessing to my employers, not a burden.

5. Love Contentment

"Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world." 1 Tim 6:6-7

Love simplicity. Do I really need to be rich to be happy? Do I need a better car? Do I need to have a bigger house? I am already rich in Christ. I do NEED some more BOOKS though. I can live in a sleeping bag as long as I have my books!

6. Love righteousness and the Faith

"But as for you, O man of God. Flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses." 1 tim 6:12-13

RUN! RUN! RUN! RUN FROM SIN!! RUN! RUN! RUN! RUN TO RIGHTEOUSNESS, GODLINESS, FAITH, LOVE, STEADFASTNESS, GENTLENESS!! Defend the faith through my studies at seminary and live an exemplary life!

And the Word became Flesh...

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And dwelt among us.

Transcendence meets imminence in Jesus Christ. God above and beyond becomes intimate and enters his creation that He created. God becomes all in all in the person of Jesus Christ. The unique One, becomes aquainted with our sorrows and our griefs. The Creator God lays down his life for fallen humanity lost in darkness. The Light of the World becomes forsaken so that he might turn men from the darkness to the Light. The Creator enters creation in the Incarnation. Divine meets humanity, Infinite meets Finite. The Incarnation of the Son of God blows my mind. It shows me that the Creator loves me. He became like me. He made me. He layed down his life for me that I might be filled with his fullness. Mercy, Justice, Grace, Faithfulness, Sovereignty, Wrath, Goodness, and Patience all come crashing in the cross of Christ, the blazing center of the Glory of God.

Father in Heaven,
Thank you that you have made me your child through my Lord Jesus Christ. Be near to me. Help me stand in awe of the Word became flesh. Grant me a worshipping heart.
In the Word's Name, Jesus Christ, Amen.