8/17/2012

According to Sonja Lyubomirsy, one of the world's leading researchers on happiness, if you want to develop lifelong satisfaction,

1. Regularly engage in positive thinking about yourself.
2. Share your happiest events with others.
3. Savor every positive experience in your life.

8/14/2012

I randomly encountered this church through which i got to go to a retreat.

How i encountered the church was that i was supposed to go to my friend's church. So when i got to the Canal 4 near which my friend tole me where his church is at. When i got to the Canal 4 and called him, he said he can't make it to the church that day then my phone died so i couldn't get the exact direction to his church. So i was looking around Canal 4 to find a church nearby. Then i found one which later i found out is not his. But anyways, through this random encountering, i got to be part of this great church retreat!

We took a trip to this place where the jungle is but we didn't go to the jungle. However, the scenery was wonderful and i had a good time getting to know people and learning about God.

We played LOTS AND LOTS of group games. There were about 40 people who went and we were divided into three groups. A lot of the games were physical activities so my body hurt. haha. However, group games are great way to learn about how teamwork works because we all have different personalities and gifts and we have to figure out how to utilize them to make the best of the teamwork. If one fails the whole group fails. Sometimes, my personality resists working with a group just because i tend to think inside but through group activities i learn to understand about how i can fit myself into the group so that we can all succeed. 

The best part of the retreat was the talk i had with a pastor. The pastor is living in the U.S. doing ministries for the immigrants. It was great that he spoke English because we were able to have a full conversation. I told him about my concerns about life and he provided me with such profound and wise answers. He made me humble about myself because of good work he is doing. He asked me to pray for the immigrant families because they are facing a lot of hardship as the U.S. government is not in favor of the immigrant policies. Also, he asked me to pray for the next U.S. president election that he will have compassion for the people who are oppressed. I am always awed by people who work toward the welfare of others, so selflessly. I was humbled again because i so often do not think about others and only very concerned about what happens to my life. Also, as i confided in him about my relationships with boys- how things do not go the way i wanted often times- he advised me to set up a clear boundaries with them (this includes emotional boundaries). He said as i have come to the U.S. at such an early age that i can be very vulnerable- that i can easily rely on others for emotional needs, whether i am conscious of this or not. And that only God is the one who can support me with all the emotional needs that i need. Sometimes i don't know my motivation behind my actions. I don't know why but this clearly spoke to me and i made up my mind that i will be consciously be aware of my actions especially toward guys and set up a clear boundary. I know it is going to be hard but my effort and placing my head and goal in the right place will certainly get me somewhere. Lastly, he told me i should be thankful. I should be thankful because many people want to be in my position. I am very lucky to have my parents who pay for my tuition and let me study abroad.

Though it was a short conversation i had with the pastor, it made me think deeply about myself and reflect once again how i should live my life.

8/02/2012

7/29/2012

Haha i found this funny while i was listening to a sermon.

We often try to change others especially in a dating relationship. We hope that when things do not work out in a romantic relationship and we try to 'fix' our partners. We often try to 'change' others, have positive influence in others in the hope that others might change. And the pastor asked

"since when did you become the Holy Spirit?"

lol

7/29/2012

I told myself today. No more!

Being self-controlled is really hard at times. But sometimes, you just gotta be harsh with yourself and make a decision. That's how i felt today, and i promised myself that i won't do the things that make me feel bad. I gotta spend my thoughts and feelings on things that are worthwhile.

7/28/2012

I went to a women's bible study group yesterday. These women are so funny! They remind me of women from Desperate Houswives haha. Anyways, we had a guest, a missionary from California, who is the director of Global Children's Movement (her name is Jennifer Toledo). She shared her fasinating story with us- her testimony and how she got involved in this world-wide ministry- and I was shocked by what i was hearing. She shared her story of how at the age of 21 (which was about 11 years ago) she went to northern part of Kenya just because she felt she was called to do. There she met absolutely heart-breaking children who were the victims of war and poverty. For example, the first children she met along her long journey was those with broken fingers gorged with blood, because these children were digging the ground in the deseart just to find some water. They were hopeless after many failures of not being able to find water, they jumpted in front of the car she was in, in an attempt to kill themselves. This is absolutely ridiculous.
Like many missionaries who are called to places they don't expect at all, she also felt inadequate and just wanted to go home, feeling hopeless. But because she had faith that God can do great things and it is all about him not about her, she remained where she was and with prayers she saw many fruits in the lives of children and the nation. The miracles are just ... i mean did i believe what i was hearing? I know Jennifer's family and none of her side of the family and that of her husband's have red hair and all her three children are red-haired (and the color red is recessive allele!). I mean, this is a miracle from God that i see with my eyes. They kids are absolutely beautiful.
Though i doubt till now some things about christianity (mostly doctrines), there are things, i just can't help but attibute to God. that he is powerful and that somehow blessings go to those who love and obey God.
The message from Jennifer was whether we feel inadequate in front of obstacles we were standing, and if we do, whether we believe in what God says about us.

7/26/2012

People- or rather, people's stories- really fascinate me. I mean really FASCINATE me.

I forgot which book, but i remember reading somewhere in one of C.S. Lewis's book that says "we do not know who we are dealing with (when we meet people). They are divine creatures- created in the image of God". When i really think about this line... it is a pretty scary thought. If people who claim themselves to be Christians yet disrespect any human being- of all backgrounds, whether poor or rich, ugly or pretty and etc- i would question whether they are what they claim themselves to be they are. I think it's when we feel pride, we disregard others (we think we are better than others many times, eh?). I am still questioning many things in Christianity, but there are just some things about Christianity that are revolutionizing. Anyways, not just what it says in the Bible about treating others with absolute dignity, but also people whom i admire in life are those who consider others above themselves. My absolute favorite quote is by Abraham Lincoln that says "i don't like that man. I must get to know him better".  A lesson that is hard to take for everybody including myself, but i read all the biographies of people i admire, and they give out the same message. 

It's hard for me to listen to the voice of others whom i don't like... for whatever reason. But when i think of what i just wrote above, i fight myself and try to listen to what EVERYONE has to say. The kind of people whom i cannot stand are those who lie, to the point that i just don't wanna deal with them. Recently, a girl asked me to hang out but she has lied to be before and i was just done with her that time she lied. But i wonder if i am missing out on people's stories- her story- that if i don't give her a chance i would never know where she comes from, why she acts the way she does. If i just listen to people whom i like... i probably won't understand much about the world which is made up of stories of people.  When i think of this, i just give into my discomfort and be more open-minded. It's hard but i think in the end it's worth it. ALL people have interesting stories and i want to hear. I don't have to like them to appreciate their stories because all stories are worth hearing to.