:D GOD is AMAZING
- one month with Him helped me see that I'm the luckiest girl alive andI have a wonderful loving TJC family to share the rest of my life with.

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:: NYTS -- Learned of God's Holiness, Power to change lives, love todraw us back, And mercy to take away our burdens and sins. // good news: I GRADUATED and survived giving my sermon :D!!! another blessing Godhas given me, 3 years with him in a row, un-interrupted to help me getmy life on track :D

(the Long version)

     I graduated!:D wow Thank God. I never thought that just being able to attend NYTS 3 yearsstraight is a blessing.  A lot of otherpeople have family or school obligations that come up, but I really Thank Godthat He brought me back to NYTS each year, although the 2^nd year Ididn't really want to go back (to face myself) and the 3^rdyear Ihad to choose going to NYTS over working and making mad bank. :D BeforeNYTS,  I just changed employers so I get paid $12 an hour fortutoringnow. So, they asked me to come in the first week of NYTS to work for 20hours,since it is summer. But, I really thank God, that although the moneyside wasenticing, I'd rather attend any spiritual event over anything in theworld.  It's just more edifying andjoyful since the effects last longer. But anyways, during the graduationceremony I was reflecting on my 3 years in the NYTS program.
          The first year was my year oftransformation.  The 3 hours of prayingtook a few days to get use to, but I was floored by God's amazing love for usthrough his words. Learning for the first time to analyze the Bible in a theologicalperspective was really really amazing. I remember we went through 50 chaptersof Genesis IN DEPTH, analyzing the Creation and all the "familiar biblestories" we learned in RE, BUT, with a twist. There is SOO much more about eachbible story that God reveals. Each time I feel like I knew God better, He wouldallow me to go deeper, like peeling an onion, each layer is a new understandingof God. :D
          The Highlight of my 2^ndyear were the prayers. They were the best part of NYTS because I really feltlike I was talking to God and He would answer me directly or through thesermons. The first few days were spent repenting but through sermons I learnedthat repentance is BELIEVING that God has forgiven you. This year I spent a lotof my time learning about Faith. Faith is so basic; the act of believing God isalmighty and loving, yet our human hearts are so weak and stubborn. Forexample, I know that God will provide for me a spouse who fits me in every way,BUTTT believing and entrusting God in Faith is a whole other story. So, thatyear was spent a lot on re-establishing my faith in God again. And, throughoutthe year after NYTS, whenever I was weak, I would remember myself to " justbelieve in God's goodness and mercy".
        This 3rd year, a lot of God'steaching for me was on His holiness. Pre-NYTS was not a good start for mebecause I spent most of those weeks watching Chinese soaps which are timeconsuming and encouraging unrealistic ideas of romance.  I'm not saying it's totally wrong but inmoderation, as all media should be controlled. :D – ANYWAYs, so this year I was asked to be a teamcaptain over one of the groups. I felt that it was a lot of responsibility butalso unworthy to be choose to serve  brosand sisters. The feeling of a lot of responsibility was because I felt that Iwanted the group to touch God and make use of all their time at NYTS. Alsobecause I had to give a sermon for my graduation, I need time and prayer tomake it good.  BUTTT anyways, I spent thefirst few days of NYTS repenting and also asking God to help me be qualified tobe a team leader and serve them. Through more prayers and as NYTS went on, Ifelt that God allowed me to be a leader this time to make me aware of thequalification I need to serve Him in the future holy work. :D   I think the most wonderful thing about doingholy work is being able to see other people change and touch God.
    The second biggest lesson I learnedwas God's holiness. During the second week of NYTS I spent my freetimepreparing for my sermon. I felt anxious not from because of public speaking foronce, but because I was representing God and teaching/talking about Him, so IHAD to say everything correctly. But Thank God in one of my prayers Godrevealed to me my sermon topic, which was "taking up your cross", denyyourself, and follow Him. This sermon meant a lot to me because I felt that Iwent through the trial of facing my cross when my family first went throughfinancial trouble winter 05.  As I wrotemy sermon I became more and more aware of how unworthy I was to speak for Himand how much I still didn't know about Him.  And slowly I began to understand God's holinessand how we as a holy nation are justified by His sacrifice on the cross, not byany actions of our own. Therefore, His standard for us is high because healready paid a high price for us. We are given a new life and even His spiritto lead us. Jthat was my greatest comfort as I gave my sermon and thank God, I fasted theday before to ask God to speak through me and not allow any of my owninterpretations to be spoken.
     This NYTS was a really greatexperience for me because I felt a constant peace throughout the two weeks. Thepast two years I felt high and lows in my spirituality even at NYTS, but thisyear I was able to feel closer to God and to understand more about Him, whichhelped me maintain a upward progression. :D I think that God was showing methat my life should no longer be a roller coaster ride but one that is alwaysnear to His heart and will. :D
:: DWS (Doctrinal Writing Seminar) --

:: SSC Counseling

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... back in BP :D

:: Debby and Sean's Baby Shower

to come ::  BP SC

Church Seminars are my  VACATION TIME with God.  Each seminar I attend,  transforms my life a little more. :D 

 The first seminar that made a huge impact on my life was NYLT (National Youth Leadership Training). From that seminar, I felt the almightiness of GOd through sermons on the Holy Spirit and miracles of the True church.  It helped strengthen my faith that TJC is the one true church because we strive to follow the Bible's teachings completely.  I was also encouraged by the 200 added members in the Congo just that Feb. ^^ It was God's additional blessing to show His abidance with us.

After that, many more seminars followed....
- YASC ( Young Adult Spiritual Convocation)
- SSC counseling training
- NYR (National Youth Retreat) - causal atmosphere, discussion topics, and lotsa lotsa outdoor activities and teamwork. ^^ very diff from our normal stay in church seminars.

MOST RECENT
1. RECS (Religious Education Counseling Seminar) - learned that a counselor must TRANSFORM one's own lifestyle in order to TRANSFORM a student. (live the talk)

2. RETS (Religious Education Teaching Seminar) - Once a teacher, always a teacher... so, I must learn to ALWAYS show God through my lessons and words, and pray that everytime they are impacted by the lesson.

I'm a  very  happy ill woman.

God used this cold/flu, during one of my busiest weeks to remind me that everything is done in vain if I do not keep Him as top priority and to take care of my SPIRITUAL HEALTH.

I was so touched when my sister told me that Rooftop Campus fellowship prayed  for me and ICFers showed constant concern for me as well.  :) we really are one big family.

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one thing i took from  ICF yesterday

- as Christians we must pursue a heart of flesh vs. a heart of stone. --> meaning we must be constantly growing in our faith. A heart of flesh is alive and can feel. we must also be sensitive to God's presence around us.

 

a bit of happy news : i met someone from Berkeley High today! i've been learning for two quarters how ghetto the school is (barely any books, no heating, racial tension, unqualiied teachers, unmotivated students, broken families, bad area) -- yet from her disadvantaged situation, she excelled and made it to UCI. :D  wow.