The Chosen Day 6: Redemption

"The law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, He has made Him known.-" John 1:17-18

• What was the point of God's 1-2-3 pattern in the Old Testament?

I believe the point of such pattern is for people to see how loved they are no matter how they messed up. It's God's way of saying that no mankind sin can take away His mercy and love from them.

• What does His sacrifice on the cross revealed to you about God the Father.

The message of love from Him to me.

• How can you live out gratitude for the grace you've already been given for your rebellion?

By sharing my testimony of His sacrifice, His unconditional love, His everlasting grace to the people around me. Sharing the Good News to all and tell them, what God did to me, He will do it to them if they let Him.

(Done in Strawberry, Arizona)

The Chosen Devotional Day 5: Renegade

"The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, yet the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him. But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.-" John 1:9-13

• What is the most striking to you about the way Jesus began His ministry years?

The most striking to me was the power that comes out in every word that He utters. No word of His was wasted. Every word had a purpose, and it's for the good and glory of the kingdom of God. I am also amazed how He showed His deep and close relationship to His Father.

• Jesus repeatedly extended His hand to all types of people. In what ways do you need to be more like Him? Who do you struggle to welcome?

I struggle to be around the company of conceited people—people who think of themselves highly, who brag so much about themselves. It has been a struggle ever since. However, it doesn't mean that because I personally have a hard time around them, that I'd be indifferent to them. My old self will probably be, but I am a new creation. I did not have to be around them all the time. And while I am away from them, I have to work on myself regarding this struggle through the help of the Holy Spirit.

• In what ways are you a renegade for Jesus? In what ways do you need to become more of one?

The issue of prejudice and injustice makes me a renegade for Jesus. It's something I cannot stand with people, and I stand for what I believe in by expressing my thoughts and my heart.

The Chosen Devotional Day 4: Words

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.-" John 1:1-5

• Describe your first—"Follow me" moment with Jesus.

I don't specifically remember when and how it happened. My journey of knowing who Jesus really is, was gradual. He had to change my heart and the thinking of my mind first. From then, my walk has been to feed on the truth, the Word, even now.

• Which words of Jesus do you cherish the most?

"Look at the birds. They don’t plant, harvest, or save food in barns, but your heavenly Father feeds them. Don’t you know you are worth much more than they are? You cannot add any time to your life by worrying about it.-" Matthew 6:26-27

• How can you make your own words (particularly on social media) more like Christ's words?

So many times I've been tempted to just rant my feelings and opinions on issues flooding the social media. But thanks to the Holy Spirit who gently reminds me of who I am now, "the old is gone, the new has come." When my emotions are high because of comments I read, instead of responding immediately, I step back, take a break, think, pray. When everything boiling inside me settles down, that's when I respond to comments, or sometimes, I chose not to comment. I have learned that the words I use to express my mind and feelings are powerful. Therefore, I need to be careful how I use them. God used the Word to come everything into being. And because I am made in His own image and likeness, every word that I utter is powerful. It can make or break.

The Chosen Devotional Day 3: Represent

"If anyone would come after me, let [her] deny [herself] and take up [her] cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save [her] life will lose it, but whoever loses [her] life for my sake will save it.-" Luke 9:23-24

• Do you find it difficult your testimony? Why or why not?

Depends on the setting. If I am in a group of people talking about our faith, sharing my testimony is very easy for me. Or if I am talking to someone about faith, I normally find a way in to share the goodness of God for me. I find it difficult to "open up" the topic out of nowhere. If I just met a person and we talked for a bit, I normally don't share my testimony about Jesus, unless asked, or the opportunity is open.

• Be real: Who or what do your words most represent?

After coming into the full knowledge of who I am in Christ and how loved I am by my Father in heaven, I have been more mindful of the words that come out of my mouth. I am more careful of what words to use, especially my posts on social media because I am a representation of who I follow and who I believe which is Jesus. However, there was one incident that just happened lately that I posted a comment on the social media that made a few people react negatively. I admit it was a mistake on my part. I didn't convey my words nicely that made people uncomfortable and defensive.  The topic was about wearing masks on public during this pandemic. I wrote on the comment, "For those who don't want to wear mask, stay home." People don't want to be told what to do. I don't. But the saddest thing about what happened was, one person got so irritated that she went and checked my personal profile, looked at my pictures, and commenting unkind words.

• Moving forward, what can you say that focuses more on the "after Christ" portion of your testimony than the "before Christ" portion?

I focus more on reminding myself who I am in Christ especially the times I messed up. It's easy to be astray from God's love and presence when things are rough and tough. My flesh would tell to put a wall between me and people and God. But I have learned to do the opposite now. It's a work in progress.

The Chosen Devotional Day 2: Delivered

"The Lord is my rock and my fortress, my deliverer.-" 2 Samuel 22:2

• Describe what Christ has delivered you from?

Christ delivered me from myself, my selfish self. Christ taught me how to live according to His Father's purpose which in return benefits me and the people around me.

• In what ways can you identify with Mary Magdalene?

Being delivered from the things I thought I knew. Selfishness, arrogance, pride ruled my life for years, but like Mary Magdalene, as she continued to abide with Christ, listening and witnessing His goodness and miracles, the scales on her eyes fell down. I once was blind, but now I see.

• What role has Christ delivered you for?

The Chosen Devotional Day 1: Before

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.-" Isaiah 43:1

I want to honor my friend Susan who gave me this 40 days with Jesus book of "The Chosen" series. My prayer is that I will be able to diligently do this without missing a day. It's been a struggle of mine. I cannot do this with my own strength, but with God, who is my strength and fortress, all things are possible. I believe.

• What parts of your "before" has God redeemed, and which are you most grateful for?
  

There are too many to mention, actually. I used to get angry easily. I did not know how to control my emotions. I just burst when my feelings told me to. Because of that, some of my relationships, 

suffered. I also had this kind of attitude where I'd think to myself that if someone doesn't like, I don't like them either. Selfish thinking.

There are many more of my "before" that my Father God redeemed, but the one I am most grateful for is "repentance" which is the changing of my thinking about who and what He is. I used to think God as a big guy up in heavens just watching all people in the planet doing their thing, punished them when they do something He doesn't approve of. He was so patient walking with me to understand His very nature as my Father God.

• How does "I have called you by name, you are mine" impact you today?

This statement from the all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving God impacts the way I look at myself significantly. It's a deep, personal statement which gives me assurance and sense of belongingness, passionately love, and jealously protected. Him calling me by my name gives my life direction and purpose. It means that my birth was not random nor luck. It means my life here on earth is needed for a good purpose that He planned long before I was created.

• What do you fear? How does Isaiah 43:1—this declaration made by God to His chosen ones —affect your fear?

What do I fear? My ultimate fear is me and my loved ones well-being. I do not want to die at the early stage of my life, leaving young children without the care of their mother. I do not want my kids, my husband die before me. Death stinks. I believe it's a universal thing that people fear most of all. But thanks be to God who tells me and promises me not to fear.  I have hope that me nor my loved ones will not leave this earth until our purpose is completed. Thanks to the sacrifice of my Savior Jesus Christ, death is behind me, us. I have eternal life. 

From time to time I need a reminder of what He says in Isaiah 43:1. It gives me assurance. It gives me confidence that my all-powerful God watches me and takes care of me and the people I love.

Bread and Wine : Healed From Severe Allergic Reaction

How can I forget this day?

While observing social distancing with our church families through video chat early in the evening, our daughter, Evie came out from our room and told her Dad that her eyes and throat were itchy. Didn't think of it as something very serious, he gave her go-to allergy medicine. Fifteen minutes later, she came out again and told us that the reaction was getting worse. We let her took a shower. Her eyes were swollen and had patches of rashes on her tummy.

We suspected it was an allergic reaction from the cat. She was complaining how painful her tummy was while in the shower. The warm water was helping a bit. Her throat was still itchy. It was weird to me for her throat to get itchy if the cause of her allergic reaction were just the cats.

Right after she took a shower, she laid on the bed in agony. I told her that we will partake the Holy Communion, so I ran to the kitchen and grabbed the elements. After we partook, she had to go to the bathroom, sat on the toilet. I prayed over her. Everytime I stopped, she asked me to keep praying. Later she said she had to throw up. She threw up most of the food that she ate. Right after throwing up, she said that she felt so much better, especially her stomach of which she dreaded the most.

She lay down on the bed, her tummy still has some pain. All I could do was just pray. Her Dad came in and asked how she's doing and she replied, "I am healed!" He checked her oxygen, and thanks be to God, it's where we need it to be. That gave us a big relief.

I did not stopped praying. My praying gave Evie a sense of peace and relief. She prayed for herself too. It was beautiful to listen when your child raised her hand and exclaimed, "Praise Jesus! Bless the Lord, O my soul!" I rebuked the cause of her allergic reaction to come out of her body. She was sneezing so much and blowing her nose a lot. I believed that was one way God let that thing out of her system aside from throwing up.

Minutes later, her body was covered in welts. Yet she said she felt so much better. Her stomach was not painful anymore. Her breathing and oxygen were perfect. Her throat was not itchy. It's just the welts coming out. And soon, they were fading away.

Holding her with her head on my arm, we just talked. She told me how happy she was that she got healed. Jesus, our Father God, touched her and made her feel better. She said she was glad she didn't have to go to urgent care, especially at this time when people are staying home because of COVID-19. She was very grateful to what God had done to her body that was screaming for healing. We talked about God and His great love for us. She said, "If I have money right now" I told her how God doesn't really need our money. She added, "I just want to offer it to Him."I said that all God needs is for us to know deep inside our hearts who He is as our Father who protects, heals, provides, and that we have this full assurance inside us that He will do what He promised to us.

As we continued to talk about God's goodness, she asked me to wake her up early on Sunday so she can watch both online church that we had been watching every Sunday.

God is good and His love endures forever.

I am thankful of what happened because it displayed the works of God to my daughter. It taught her who He is. The experience she went through, the healing miracle that He showed to her is something that will be embedded in her soul as she matures into a fine young, Godly woman. It's an experience that she will carry with her wherever she goes. When something similar happens to her or anyone she knows, she already know who to turn to, what to do.

And yes, it's the power of the Holy Communion that healed her. It's our remembering what Jesus went through on His way to the cross. By His stripe, Evie was healed. We run to the table that God prepared for us especially in dark times. "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies." Tonight the ingredient on what Evie ate that gave her severe reaction was the enemy. But thanks be to God for the table with the meal that He prepared for her. She received healing.