IRRESISTABLE

Test Test

2011-02-19T23:25:00.001-08:00

I was born in New York. I had a happy life, a happy family and I lived my life as a sinner. My father is a serious Buddhist. Every morning, he wakes up, and the children will have to chant along with him.
At the age of seven, my parents divorced, and all the children were brought to Malaysia, the place where my father was born. His relatives (my aunt and grandma) took care of us. Dad had to leave us in Malaysia and come back to the States to work.
Once we got to Malaysia, our life totally changed. My elder brother, Wilson, and I were not allowed to sit on the sofas, we couldn't watch television, we couldn't eat together with other people, and we had to do all the house chores. We were basically unpaid servants, but what was more is that we were totally under control of my grandma.
About three years later, my dad wasn't healthy, and the money he sent for our expenses wasn't enough to cover our lives. So, Wilson had to come back to New York. I stayed alone with my younger brother, Charlton.
Life was never better, and it could never be worse. From small, there was something about Christians that made me want to know them more. But being under the relative’s coverage, I wasn't allowed to call my friends, go any where else than school, and they were Taoism. They dislike Christianity.
One day, as my grandma handed me a bag of garbage, I found a small, blue book. I took it out, and started reading the book. It talks about this man, Jesus Christ, and I wondered who would write the same stories over and over again. I knew it had something to do with Jesus, but I didn’t know that that is the New Testament, talking about God.
As the days pass by, I came to know a classmate. She is a serious Christian. She pointed me to Christ; with strength, understanding and encouragement to go on in life. There were many times I tried to commit suicide, but I never succeeded. She bought a brand new bible for me from her hometown, and the next day it was gone. More people gave me bibles, but the next day it would be gone again. My aunt confiscated it from me.

She warned me not to be a Christian. I wasn't allowed to have any connection with God. When I listened to gospel music, I would stand beside the player to get ready to turn it off when my aunt comes. The only way I did connect to God was through my diary, where I would write all my feelings and everything to God. Even the diary, my aunt read it and she thought I was writing to my dad, until she read something like, "Dear Father in Heaven.....Jesus Christ....."

As I was so comfortable and happy with my sister in Christ in class, she had to leave to another state. Once in a while, I would sneak to church, but my aunt found out too. I didn't know anything about God other than He is God.

When it was second year in college, I had to go to KL, another state in Malaysia for internship. That means I was not under any control.

KL is also the state my sister I met in high school, whom I cried one whole day over, was staying. I e-mailed her to let her know my address and I told her I wanted to go to church. Over there, God amazingly revealed himself to me; his greatness, his power and God glorified himself right in front of my eyes. I was baptized, and I finally received Christ as my savior.
Praise God, He sent his my dad to bring me back to the US. On eighth of August, 2007, I reached San Diego, California, thanks to Jesus Christ! I finally live with mom after 15 years not seeing her, and Wilson, after 13 years being apart.
God allowed crazy things to happen to me in my life, lots more than just what I wrote down here. But I PRAISE MY GOD for it all. I have learned so much, yet so little about God and other things – which I would never be able to understand if I didn’t go through all this. PTL!!!
God is great, amazing, and indescribable, beyond comprehension, beyond understanding......Praise God, I praise him for everything! Especially, for SAVING ME!!! =)

2011-02-13T08:16:00.001-08:00

Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O LORD!
-Psalm 25:7

Love is beautiful.

2011-02-06T20:04:00.000-08:00

"Lord I will follow You.

Be a slave, be a bondslave!

2011-02-05T22:10:00.001-08:00

The Greek word translated "bond-servant" in Philippians 1:1 was commonly used of those who, out of devotion to their masters, chose to remain as slaves when having the opportunity to be released. They were also known as love slaves because they served out of love, not compulsion.
-John MacArthur

What?

2011-02-05T20:55:00.000-08:00

Just got off from a shift from work at the hosp.

How glorious,
How wonderful.
What beauty,
What awe.

Looking into the eyes of Jesus,
What does His heart ache for?
What do his eyes see?
Where does his feet walk to?
Where does his mind land on?
What does he think most of the times?

Let me be serious.
Let me be honest.
I struggle with sin,
I am far from perfection.

But my Jesus is good.
He died for me in replace of my sins
All my guilt was laid upon his shoulders
Gave up his life just for mine, for yours.

The gospel.
What is it?
And what does it entail?
The gospel.
Is truth.
The only way to have fellowship with God.
Apart from the gospel of Jesus Christ,
Is separation from God.

Kim reminded me:
Hell isn't just torture, fire, a bad time,
It's SEPARATION FROM GOD.
That's what makes it so bad.

Nothing can be worse than being separated from God,
Not allowed into His presence,
No help, no hope, nothing.

However, if you are with me, believe and trust in Jesus Christ as our Lord:

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.-Paul in Roamns 8:38

Soli deo gloria.

Searching Outside of Self

2011-02-03T08:20:00.000-08:00

Where is happiness found? How can satisfaction be achieved? Too oftenpeople engage in a frantic search for these elusive feelings. Looking outside of ourselves is common. What are some external sources? A partial list includes material possesions, money...and even a day of the week(maybe Friday)? How often do you think that a particular person or a specific thing can make you happy? This belief carries grave risks such as dependancy. Relying on an external source for happiness puts control of your life outside yourself. If externals make you happy, they can also make you unhappy...
We constantly tell ourselves such things as,"If I could just go back to school and acquire more knowledge - perhaps get a master's degree- then I will be happy." But are people with master's degrees or Ph.D.'s any happier than the rest of us?...it is misleading to expect [knowledge] to bring us peace, love and happiness. Another misleading thought is that money will bring hapiness. "People grossly exagerrate the impact that higher incomes would have no subjective well-being,"said Alan Krueger, a professor of ecenomics and public affairs at Princeton University. A wealth of data in recent decades has shown that once personal wealth exceeds about $12,000 a year, more money produces virtually no increase in life satisfaction. From 1958 to 1987, for example, income in Japan grew fivefold, but researchers could find no corresponding increase in happiness.
-Person to Person by Sharon L. Hanna

This is a chapter I had to read for my Sociology class. All in all, I am grateful that my source of happiness (I call it joy) doesn't come from a fleeting source that changes every now and then. Rather, my joy depends on a soveriegn God, His name is Jesus Christ, and He is constant, which means my joy never changes too, no matter what the circumstance is, I am always joyful.

Also, if I were to sum up this chapter in one sentence, it would be this:
"This also is vanity and a striving after the wind (Ecclesiastes, many verses)...the end of the matter, all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man" (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

Soli deo gloria.

Candy

2011-02-02T08:10:00.000-08:00

How to live and not grow weary? Wait upon the LORD, then you will run and not be weary, walk and not faint. See Isaiah 40:31

Now I know why I can be joyful even in trials, because they produce maturity in faith and prove genuine faith. See James 1:2-4

my good works -------> glorify God

2011-02-01T16:46:00.000-08:00

Too often they are like the reclusive, frugal man many years ago who accumulated 246 expensive violins in the attic of his house in Italy. Because he selfishly acquired and held on to those instruments, the world never heard the beautiful music the violins were intended to play. Many believers hide their light and store away the great treasure they possess as children of God. As a result, 95 percent of the world’s spiritual violins have not been played for others.
-John MacArthur

Reading this made me think,"How will people see my good works and glorify my Father in heaven if I don't shine for Jesus?"

SEND MEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-02-01T08:10:00.000-08:00

To whom it may concern,
Hi, I am Sabrina Tan. I am a pre-nursing student in Cal State University San Marcos. I am currently living in San Diego. I just came back from Malaysia in Aug 2007. God has been merciful and gracious to me. Since I step foot in San Diego, God has been blessing my life in all directions and means.

This summer, God has given me the privilege to go on a mission trip to the Philippines and Vietnam. In 2008, the missionaries went to Tao Bato, a place where no one has ever reached before. These people didn’t know how to wear clothes. The missionaries had to hike about 8 hours to climb up to their caves. The missionaries successfully helped out not only to spread the good news, but also help out physically. This mission trip will be a 32 day journey.

I personally want to go because I feel compelled by the love of Christ to spread the Gospel, and be a part of the great commission. I plan to become a nurse and use this in the mission field, as medicine is imperative in the mission field.

I would like to ask for your support, specifically with prayer. Please keep me in your prayers that God would continue to open doors for me to go on this mission trip, and provide me with everything I need to go. Also, please pray that the gospel would be preached without hindrence during our trip there.

I would also like to ask for financial support. It costs $2000.00 per person for this mission trip. All checks are tax deductible. Please make the checks payable to Vietnamese Baptist Church. Please send it to Sabrina Tan at 12216B Rancho Bernardo Rd, 92128 San Diego, CA.

I thank God for having you in my life! I know there are no coincidences. Thank you so much for your time, and support during this important time in life.
God bless!

ps. Please visit http://christdrivenint.comxa.com/ for more info about our mission team.

Sincerely,
Sabrina Tan =)

My contact info:

Name : Sabrina Tan
Address : 12216B Rancho Bernardo Rd, 92128 San Diego, CA.
Cell (858)-837-1111
Email : sabrinajctan@gmail.com
_ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

I, _______________________ would like to support Sabrina Tan through:
o Prayer
o Financially of an amount of ____________
My address is _____________________________________________________________________________________

An Atheist Professor of Philosophy was speaking to his Class on the problem Science has with God. He asked one of his new Christian students to stand.

2011-01-21T08:28:00.001-08:00

Professor: You are a Christian, aren’t you, son?
Student: Yes, sir.
Professor: So, you believe in God?
Student: Absolutely, sir.
Professor: Is God good?
Student: Sure.
Professor: My brother died of cancer, even though he prayed to God to heal him. Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill. But God didn’t. How is God good, then? Hmm?
(Student was silent)
Professor: You can’t answer, can you? Let’s start again, young fella. Is God good?
Student: Yes.
Professor: Is Satan good?
Student: No.
Professor: Where does Satan come from?
Student: From.. God.
Professor: That’s right. Tell me son, is there evil in this world?
Student: Yes.
Professor: Evil is everywhere, isn’t it? And God did make everything. Correct?
Student: Yes.
Professor: So who created evil?
(Student didn’t answer)
Professor: Is there sickness? Immortality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things exist in the world, don’t they?
Student: Yes, sir.
Professor: So, who created them?
(Student had no answer)
Professor: Science says you have 5 senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Tell me, son.. have you ever seen God?
Student: No, sir.
Professor: Tell us if you have ever heard your God.
Student: No, sir.
Professor: Have you ever felt your God, tasted your God, smelt your God? Have you ever had any sensory perception of God, for that matter?
Student: No, sir. I’m afraid I haven’t.
Professor: Yet you still believe in Him?
Student: Yes.
Professor: According to empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, Science says your God doesn’t exist. What do you say to that, son?
Student: Nothing. I only have my Faith.
Professor: Yes, Faith. And that is the problem Science has.
Student: Professor, is there such a thing as Heat?
Professor: Yes.
Student: And is there such a thing as Cold?
Professor: Yes.
Student: No, sir, there isn’t.
(The Lecture Theatre became very quiet with this turn of events)
Student: Sir, you can have lots of heat, even more heat, superheat, mega heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat. But we don’t have anything called cold. We can hit 458 Degrees below Zero which is no heat, but we can’t go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold. Cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of Heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.
(There was a pon-drop silence in the Lecture Theatre)
Student: What about darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as darkness?
Professor: Yes. What is night if there isn’t darkness?
Student: You’re wrong again, sir. Darkness is the absence of something. You can have Low Light, Normal Light, Bright Light, Flashing Light… But if you have No Light constantly, you have nothing and it’s called Darkness, isn’t it? In reality, darkness isn’t. If it is, You would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn’t you?
Professor: So what is the point you are making, young man?
Student: Sir, my point is, your Philosophical Premise is flawed.
Professor: Flawed? Can you explain how?
Student: Sir, you are working on the Premise of Duality. You argue there is Life and then there is Death, a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, Science can’t even explain a thought. It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it. Now tell me, Professor, do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?
Professor: If you are referring to the Natural Evolutionary Process, yes of course, I do.
Student: Have you ever observed Evolution with your own eyes, sir?
(The professor shook his head with a smile, beginning to realize where the argument was going)
Student: Since no one has ever observed the Process of Evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you not a Scientist but a Preacher?
(The class was in uproar)
Student: Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the Professor’s brain?
(The class broke out into laughter)
Student: Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor’s brain, felt it, touched or smelt it? .. No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established Rules of Empirical, Stable and Demonstrable Protocol, Science says that you have no brain, sir. With all due respect, sir, how do we then trust your lectures?
(The room was silent. The Professor stared at the student, his face unfathomable)
Professor: I guess you’ll have to take them on Faith, son.
Student: That is it, sir.. exactly! The link between man and God is Faith. That is all that keeps things alive and moving!
----------------------------------------------------
That student was Albert Einstein.

Brilliant.

----------------------------------------------------

So amazingly good. Was just blessed right now.

He is G

2011-01-18T18:38:00.000-08:00

The LORD is good. He is always good. I don't say this with a smile on my face. I say this with tears in my eyes.

It's easy to say the LORD is good.
A bit too easy?
SO easy that the sentence looses its meaning sometimes.

In times like these, I start to understand the simple sentences I thought I understood.

Why would He choose me over her? Or her? Or her?
Third granny to pass away.
And I have never literally shared the gospel with either of them.

Going to church, serving, missions over seas,
Yet my own flesh and my own blood
I can't even share with them.

The LORD is good. He is all knowing. He is all powerful. He is the only King, the only Teacher, the only good one.

Even though I've never shared the gospel to them before they left,
Even if they were never saved
Even if....
God is still good

To say the LORD is good in easy days is simple
But the LORD is good, even in the hard days.
Yes, He is good.
The LORD is good.

Praise Jesus.

Humbled...

2011-01-01T22:11:00.000-08:00

Falling on my knees in worship
Giving all I am to seek your face
Lord all I am is yours

My whole life
I place in your hands
God of Mercy
Humbled I bow down
In your presence at your throne

Profile pic

2010-12-15T08:06:00.000-08:00

I was thinking about my facebook profile picture. I saw my friend change her profile picture to a picture of her and me only. I thought, oh I should match her and change my profile picture to only her and me too.

But I thought, no picture I can think of can really replace the picture I already have as profile pic. This picture is more than what the eye can see. It is the hope of missions. It reminds me God can bring us through the impossible and make it happen.

Plus, the sisterhood we had in that picture cannot be described through words. That was the most joyful time of my life. Doing what I was created to do. It's more joyful than when I was an innocent child.

Praise God. Praise the LORD. Praise Him...

How can it be

2010-12-04T13:57:00.000-08:00

How can it be
You were the one on the cross
Lifted for all our shame?
How can it be
The scars in Your hands are for me?
You are the king of all

-More than life, Hillsong

To whom do I belong?

2010-11-28T10:06:00.000-08:00

If you are Christ’s let me advise you to do four things. You belong to Jesus—obey him; let his word be your law; let his wish be your will. You belong to the Beloved, then love him; let your heart embrace him; let your whole soul be filled with him. You belong to the Son of God, then trust him; rest nowhere but on him. You belong to the King of kings, then be decided for him. Thus, without your being branded upon the brow, all will know to whom you belong.
-CH Spurgeon

Love your neighbour

2010-11-27T08:52:00.000-08:00

Perhaps, on the other hand, thou art rich, and near thee reside the poor. Do not scorn to call them neighbour. Own that thou art bound to love them. The world calls them thy inferiors. In what are they inferior? They are far more thine equals than thine inferiors, for “God hath made of one blood all people that dwell upon the face of the earth.” It is thy coat which is better than theirs, but thou art by no means better than they. They are men, and what art thou more than that? Take heed that thou love thy neighbour even though he be in rags, or sunken in the depths of poverty.

But, perhaps, you say, “I cannot love my neighbours, because for all I do they return ingratitude and contempt.” So much the more room for the heroism of love. Wouldst thou be a feather-bed warrior, instead of bearing the rough fight of love? He who dares the most, shall win the most; and if rough be thy path of love, tread it boldly, still loving thy neighbours through thick and thin. Heap coals of fire on their heads, and if they be hard to please, seek not to please them, but to please thy Master; and remember if they spurn thy love, thy Master hath not spurned it, and thy deed is as acceptable to him as if it had been acceptable to them. Love thy neighbour, for in so doing thou art following the footsteps of Christ.

-CH Spurgeon

truthfully

2010-11-21T00:45:00.001-08:00

May it be

2010-11-11T09:50:00.000-08:00

May You, O LORD,
Be all that I want
May You, God,
Be all that I need
May You Father,
Be the first thing I look for when I get home.
May You, Jesus,
Be the first thing I turn to after classes.
May it not be, my LORD,
The emails, facebook, music, tv, or anything else
That seems to satisfy me

But if anything does satisfy
Then may it be You:
My everlasting King,
My redeemer,
My soul's desire,
my living water,
my grace and my mercy
My life
My all
May it be You, my LORD
You alone that I worship
You alone I 'idolize'
May You be the only one
satisfying, and fulfilling

Sometimes I don't feel hungry but I eat anyway
May that be how I am with You
Even if I don't feel like coming to You
May I still come anyway
Because You are my food, which I have o strength without,
You are my water, which keeps me hydrated
You are my air, which I will die without.
Be my everything LORD.

The everlsating King, Alpha, Omega,
Beginning and End.
The Almighty God
I serve
Him alone
Let me serve, o Lord.

Praised be the Lord
Wait upon the Lord
for then we will walk and not be weary
We will work and not faint
Because the LORD is our strength.

Praise the LORD, Oh my soul,
Praise the LORD.

realization

2010-11-05T19:09:00.000-07:00

Getting into the accident, some facts have become even more real to me:

1. Only God is wise, he alone knows everything.
Asking people who were there at the scene, the people involved or even myself, none of us can be sure of what happened, who was wrong, etc. However, God saw it all happen. He at least allowed it to happen. He knew what was going to happen before it even did happen.

2. Conscience.
God has given us conscience. Even though I cannot say for sure what happened, I have conscience of what I did, at least for the most important fact, I do. I don't know every detail, don't remember turning into the lane, red light or green light, but my conscience tells me some things. And those who have never heard about the law will be judged based on what they already know-conscience.

A flawful human being like me, why would a flawless God even want me? We are so different. In Chinese people call it "the difference between sky and land." That's how big a difference we are and have. Yet He would come and pick me up, wash away all my unrighteousness, take years to teach me to change my ways to His ways. He is always patient, always forgiving (with repentance), always understanding. Even if the whole world were to look down on me or hate me, my LORD and my GOD is my salvation forever. He is my shield, my rock, my redeemer, my Father's God, and I will praise Him.

I am left to say,"Praise the LORD."

How encouraging to know

2010-11-01T20:36:00.001-07:00

Adopted from ESV study bible

1 Pet. 5:10 a little while (cf. 1:6). This includes the period of time beginning with Christ's ascension (cf. Acts 1:6–11) until Christ comes again at the end of the age. From God's perspective, one's time in this world is notably brief (cf. James 4:14; 2 Pet. 3:8). Thus, no matter how long or intense one's suffering may be, it will be short compared to the joys of eternity. Four verbs (restore, confirm, strengthen, establish) remind believers that God will eventually restore whatever they have lost for the sake of Christ. Though suffering will come first, it will be followed by eternal glory. The God who effectually called believers by his grace will fortify them with his strength, so that they are able to endure to the end.

Whoops

2010-09-13T20:12:00.000-07:00

I have never done this before. I answered a professional, non Christian hospital, in a manner that cannot eliminate Christ. I wonder, what if they reject me because of my belief in God? Well, if they do not accept me because Christ is so valuable to me, they are not worth working for. Therefore, I bravely responded and replied to them. May God see to this matter, and act as He deems best. Here it is:

Question:Who is someone that you hope to emulate, and why?

My response:
Throughout my life, I cannot think of one person alone whom I would like to emulate.
Since I was little until 21 years old, I was never exposed to the public. I was abused, and not allowed to go out. There are characteristics of some people that I like about them,but I have yet to know someone who has all the qualities I am hooting for.

The only place I can find such a person is from the bible. I want to be like Jesus Christ.He is able to go to the poor, the ones who were oppressed, the ones who were often overlooked, the needy, the hungry, the sick. He heals them, feeds them, clothes them, leads them, and gives them life.

He is the perfect leader; he has all the qualities a leader needs: loving, kindness,caring,patience, wisdom and the like. Not only does he have those qualities, he is also qualified to lead, and heal spiritually and physically. Also, he was able to reach different places, and send the 12 apostles to continue his
mission to the rest of the world.

The reason I want to emulate him is because I have a vision (not a dream) to form a mission organization and send people to all places that need to hear the gospel about Christ and medical help. I want to have the leadership characteristics like Jesus has. I know I will never be perfect like he is, but that is not a reason for me not to strive daily to be more like him. I want to reach the rest of the world like Jesus did. I want to heal the sick, to give to the poor, to clothe the homeless, and to be Christ’s hands and feet.

I am planning on becoming a full time missionary, and being a physician assistant so
that I can heal people physically, and spread the good news about Jesus Christ. My church, Christ Driven is made up of a majority of 14-26 year olds. We already have a
mission team, Christ Driven International. Right now, we are already touching Vietnam,Philippines, and Mexico. Malaysia is where I go to visit my relatives and also missions alone. Many of us are planning to be nurses, P.A., or doctors. I have confidence that my vision will soon come true, if God wills.

Here is more information about the team: http://iigworship.com/

SOLI DEO GLORIA

O chem love

2010-09-11T15:36:00.000-07:00

This is one of the 6 songs that have been accompanying me for the last 3 hours. I'm finishing Chapter one of Organic Chem! Two more to go!!!

The Lord is good
His love is everlasting
Let us rejoice in the hope we have in him
Great is the Lord
And definitely - greatly to be praised
Soli deo gloria!

mourning turns to joy

2010-09-10T08:13:00.000-07:00

“Tragically, the last time the gospel was preached from this pulpit to this church was in 1957. Three to four thousand churches this year will close just like this church. Why? Because the story and the glory of the church becomes bigger than the story and glory of God.
…..
But the reality is that most Christians are not on mission. A recent poll said 60% of all Christians felt no obligation whatsoever to share their faith. Now the temptation for us pastors is to beat the sheep with a stat like that in our sermons. But here’s the reality, guys: they’re simply imitating and following our example. We need a glimpse of the God who is on mission.”

— Darrin Patrick

Semester verse

2010-09-09T21:17:00.001-07:00

This will probably be my verse for this semester. It has everything I need to get through this tough and rough time. =)

Romans 12:11, 12 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

PTL.

Heart

2010-09-06T18:49:00.000-07:00

Your words
are a lamp unto my feet
when I walk down these
Dark and Lonely streets
You are all I need

Pour out your mercy
and clear this busy mind

-Pour out by SHawn McDonald