Thursday, December 13, 2007

Cake and Pray

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KAT!! (Our neighbor) After Radical Jam, I rushed home to make the birthday cake for Kat. Karen improvised my piggy for me. She added wings and put Kat's name on it too! It's so cute! We surprised her with the cake and gift. Kat was very touched and surprised. She said it's the best birthday ever, and that she really felt special and loved! After we ate the cake, (we got apple cider too!) opened the gifts, each of us prayed for her. Mel (the girl who lives with Kat), is a Catholic and she prayed for Kat too! It was a heartwarming moment that we forgot to took pictures of. Darn it! >< But, I secretly prayed in my heart that Kat and Mel would both get to encounter God's complete and agape love more in near future through me and Karen!! Thank You Jesus for loving them so much! :) I loveYou<3

Early this morning at around 3 or 4am, me, Karen, and Brian were studying together for our finals. Brian wasn't feeling too well, he kept on wanted to throw up, and he had a sick stomach. Me and Karen prayed for him and he said he felt much much better! Yay! Then he came over and said, "It's my turn to pray for you guys now. I feel like God wants me to pass on the blessings to you guys." However, the interesting thing was, before he prayed, he asked for forgiveness for whatever he has done that might have leave a scar or grudges in us towards him. He said, he doesn't want any barriers to block between us and between Him. I was really touched by that, and also by his prayer (though he prayed in Korean). God's presence filled the study lounge completely! It was so awesome, all of us were refreshed. Karen had a headache and shoulder sore + pain and they were much better after we prayed for her. I couldn't stop smiling after we prayed for each others. God is just too sweet, and not just that! I saw how Brian changed so much from a year or two ago. His relationship with Jesus has grown deeper, and he also shared with us his discovery for the past two weeks. He said, "Man, what we're doing now is inefficient! We should pray and read Bible before we start studying. I prayed for God to let me really concentrate and study, so then what usually would take me forty hours to accomplish, I can finish in just four hours! And I studied so much that four hours, just ask me anything!" I can tell that he really knows a lot of stuffs, because usually its Karen who teaches Brian everything, but this time, it was the opposite! We went back to our apartment and we worshiped God with Johnny's song, "Hear my cry". (Brian said he really love that song!) We were singing that song for like at least ten times. Good job Johnny, keep writing songs!! They are full of anointing! :D

Lord I pray for everyone who's taking finals this week that they will gain wisdom, focus, memorization, and strength from Your kingdom!! Give us the heart that thirsts for knowledge and finds studying interesting. Jesus, fill your children with the supernatural study skills, that we may all become ambassadors of Your kingdom and bring glory to Your Name. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.

-sala<3

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Brain's Dead but Spirit's Alive

我現在處於一個腦死狀態... 剛寫完一個18頁的報告. 一整晚沒睡, 暴累的啦! 問我為什麼不去睡還在這裡寫blog, 答案是: 報告再一個小時後就要交了, 如果去睡的話依我的死人睡法是絕對叫不起來的.

話說昨天晚上我上MSN大宣大傳IMPACT的聖誕節晚會, 邀了好多人但是大多數都不確定. 其中一個女生她說她生病了, 一直咳嗽. 我跟她說, 我幫你禱告後你就會好了. 阿禱告後我問她你感覺怎樣?? 她笑笑的說, "應該不會那麼快就生效吧" 我跟她說很多時候禱告完就馬上恢復了喔. 所以我又再問她一次, 她說她現在沒有咳嗽了. 耶~~ 哈里路亞!! 耶穌萬歲~~!! 後來我很興奮的跟她分享了我第一次經歷神醫治的大能的故事. 我幾年前有一天喉嚨開始劇痛, 吞口水都有困難, 我那天晚上馬上用MSN請大家幫我做醫治禱告, 當然我也有幫自己禱告. 結果隔天早上我起床喉嚨完全好了!!! 超厲害的!! 跟她分享完她也覺得上帝實在是太奇妙了!!

其中有一個男生我再邀請他的時候不知道為什麼問到了他跟他女朋友最近怎樣, 他告訴我他們最近好像沒有那麼好之類的問題, 還有這禮拜期末考讓他很煩. 我就幫他禱告, 也鼓勵他幫他女朋友禱告. 禱告完他很感動, 他說, "Sarah, I'm not religious. But I will (pray for her)." 讚美主!! 我相信就算還沒信主的人的禱告神也會垂廳的!! 因為他愛每一個人! :D

半夜的時候Karen說要出去買冰淇淋, 我們就跑到Ride Aid, 剛好Carmen在值班. 他說他拿到了我們的卡片, 還貼在他家冰箱上. 我真的不知道要怎麼樣帶他信主, 除了用神給我們的愛去愛他, 加上幫他禱告以外. 我知道他一定有感受到神對他的愛, 有可能還沒有很清楚, 但是一定有!! 耶穌我希望祢能夠透過我還有Karen把祢想要傳遞給她的愛完完全全不保留的傳到她心裡. 我也再次為著Carmen獻上感恩, 因為你救了她還有她丈夫的命, 他們將會把他們的生命完全的交托在祢的手裡! 阿們!

有神的同在真好... 能夠永遠沉溺在祂的愛中真好... 我不知道其他兄弟姊妹現在跟神的關係是怎樣, 是不是也跟我一樣24/7在祂的懷抱裡享受著祂的美好和愛? 就算天氣變冷了, 我的心還是一樣每天都好溫好暖... 這就是跟耶穌談戀愛的感覺. 嘻嘻~~ 耶穌我好愛祢!! <3

Ps. 謝謝祢在夢中給我準備了好豐盛的聖誕大餐! 害我睡到下午3點, 真是的... 不過好好吃喔~~ >////< 再來一餐吧~!! 呵呵呵~~ (流口水)

//Translation//
I'm at a stage of brain dead right now, for I just finished my 18 pages of project. Didn't sleep the entire night... and you ask why am I still here typing? Well the answer is: it's due in an hour! if I go sleep now then it's probably not possible to wake me up in time! >.<

So then I was promoting IMPACT's Christmas Party on MSN last night. Invited a whole bunch of people but most of them are not sure yet. There was a girl who's been sick for three days, and she couldn't stop coughing. I told her that after I pray for her she would get healed! So then after prayer I asked her how she's feeling now. She laughed and said, "It wouldn't be that quick would it?" I told her that sometimes it will! Then I asked her again, and she said her coughing stopped just now!! Praise the Lord!! Then I shared with her about my first healing encounter experience. A few years ago, my throat just started to hurt so badly one day. It was so severe that it was hard for me to even swallow my saliva. That night I asked everyone to pray for my throat's healing with MSN, of course I prayed for myself as well. The next morning the pain was completely gone!! It's so crazy! After I shared with her she was really amazed at God too! :D

Then when I was talking to a guy about that party, out of no where I started to ask him how's he doing with his girlfriend. He told me that they are not as close as before and he's really frustrated about it. Also, he's stressed about his finals. I prayed for him for both things and encouraged him to pray for his girlfriend as well. He said, "Sarah, I'm not religious. But I will (pray for her)." Yay praise the Lord! I believe that God listens to everyone's prayers even if they are not Christians yet, because He loves every one of us! ^^

At midnight, my roommate was craving for ice cream, so then we went to Ride Aid to get some. Carmen was working at the hour, and she told us that she got our card, how she was so excited to see it, and now its on her fridge. I really don't know how exactly to lead Carmen to Christ except to love her with the love that Jesus poured on me, and with prayers. I know for sure that she has felt His love, maybe not that strong to her yet, but I'm sure she's felt it somehow! Jesus I pray that You can use me and Karen to pour out the love and words completely to her, no holding back! I give thanks to You for Carmen and her husband once again, for You have saved their lives, may they surrender their lives completely to You. Amen!

It's so good to dwell in His presence... It's so good to drench myself in His love... I don't know if other brothers/sisters feel the same way as me, being able to feel His love and goodness embracing me 24/7. Even if the weather turns cold, my heart is always warm and fuzzy. This is how you feel when you're in love Jesus! Jesus I love you so much!! <3

Ps. Thank You for the wonderful and delicious Christmas feast in my dream. Causing me not wanting to wake up until 3 in the afternoon... thanks. lol. But it's so good...>////< One more tonight? hehehe~~ (drool)

-sala<3

Thursday, December 6, 2007

WOW's of the Week

WOW #1 : My marketing midterm was on Tuesday morning at 9am. I studied very hard very hard. (The night before the exam) I didn't sleep the entire night to study for it. (Procrastination) At around 6am I couldn't take it anymore so I said to myself, "I'm going to take a nap until 7am then continue to study." (Boys and Girls, that never works. Don't try it at home.) When I woke up, DON DON DON!! The clock did its job of showing the precise time of... 10:37AM! I paused for a second, and then... NOOOOOO!!!!! >___< (Yes, I missed my exam completely.) After that, I fell back on my bed to sleep. (Get over it and move on. Uh huh!) My roommate woke me up at 2pm to go to class and after she heard what happened, we prayed for it and she told me that somehow she knows everything is going to be fine. I believe that too! I e-mailed my TA and told him the truth that I slept-over the exam. (Tell the truth!) Then there were a lot of e-mailing back and forth between me and the TA and the Professor. Normally, if you tell your teacher that you missed the exam because you overslept, they won't let you make up the exam. However, God is faithful and the professor let me take the make-up exam today. I passed and TA gave me full credit on the essay part. (He didn't even read it) GOD IS GREAT<3

WOW #2 : On Tuesday night, my neighbor invited me and Karen to go eat dinner at her place. So we made 麻婆豆腐 and brought it over. It was an awesome dinner. By the way, my neighbors' names are Catherine (Cat) and Himelda (Mel). That night Mel wasn't home, so it was just the three of us. After dinner, Karen went to class and I stayed with Cat. At first we were just watching TV and doing our own stuffs on our laptops, then I thought, I should do something that's purposeful and bring God's presence in this household. So I asked Cat if she wanted to join me for a Bible study, amazingly she said sure. Because when we first met, she told us that she doesn't believe in God, so I brought two bibles from my place, expecting that she doesn't have one. But surprisingly she does have one in her room. We started to read Psalms 93, and it is about giving thanks to the Lord with music and for all He has done for us. During the Bible study I kept on praying that God will speak through me to Cat and for her to encounter God tonight! Cat told me that she used to go to church, but not anymore because she only liked the worship part and the sermon never really spoke to her heart. She said she likes to read the Bible just to enjoy the words, but she doesn't like the feeling where she has to obey all that it says in there. It makes her feel pressured when reading it. She says that she knows that is a God but she can't see Him, or hear Him, so she feel blind and it is hard for her to follow God that way. I shared with her about the story of the blind man who called unto Jesus' Name and then got healed because of his faith. That sometimes even when we're blind, if we would just call out to His Name despite the circumstances, and learn to trust Jesus' voice, we would be able to pull it off from our current situation of disabilities. I also encouraged her that, God really doesn't need us to do anything for Him. It's not like if we do more for Him and He will love us more, but that He has loved us so deeply where just one glance of our eyes would melt His heart. I sang that song for her "What can I do for you, what can I give to you.... " Then I invited her to once again surrender herself to God and to experience His love in her life. We read Romans 8:38, 39. "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Although she didn't answer my invitation directly, I know for sure that God has started working in her heart through the words that He spoke through me that night. Amen.


WOW #3 : Last night I was studying for the make-up exam that I just finished taking a few hours ago. I studied from 12:30am till 11:30am without sleeping!! The amazing thing was, I prayed for strength, comprehension, memorization, and concentration before I begin studying, and I was not tired at all until 11ish this morning! Isn't that crazy? I was totally amazed. So, fellow students, I urge you to pray before you begin your studies. Or just basically pray before you do ANYTHING! That's always a good way to start things off. Which reminds me of the Sunday that I woke up at 5:30am to pray, that whole day I was strengthened and focused and productive even when I just had 4 hours of sleep. God is our strength when we are weak!! That's right!

WOW # 4 : After I finished my exam, I was walking back to my apartment like a walking zombie. I was so tired. However, my spirit kept on asking me, "so you wanted your campus to revive, why don't you start with that stranger?" every time I pass a person. "The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak." Exactly how I felt. I passed one person after another without approaching to any one of them. Suddenly I thought of Amanda, the president of the University Christian Fellowship that I met randomly last week, and wanted to talk to her. I was so tired right, so normally people with situation like me would just go straight back to their rooms and throw themselves on their beds right? However, instead of walking towards the stairs, I turned and went into the computer lab. There sits Amanda. I didn't talk to her because I wasn't sure if it was her so I sat there for a little while then went back to my room. Texted her and confirmed that it was her in the computer lab, I talked to her on the phone about my situation of how just a few days ago I would be able to approach to people so easily and offer them a prayer, but right now I feel so weak. Especially when I saw my brother in Christ doing the "A Person A Day" challenge, I felt like I need to do better than what I'm doing now. I was just babbling and somehow that encouraged her a lot, according to her. I thank God for Your love and mercy, that even though my flesh is weak, You still used me to encourage another sister in Christ, and thank You for loving Amanda so much. I love you Jesus, always. Muah~*

Now, I am going to take a nap until Karen comes back. Then I will begin another all-nighters fight for tomorrow's Soc exam. God of victory, grant me the strength, wisdom, and focus to bring You glory. I praise You. Hallelujah to the King. Amen.

-sala<3

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Last H.C. of this quarter

Karen's Dream
Me and Karen were walking and worshiping God together. Then, the scene changed and we walked unto a open grass field. We had so much faith that we believe anything will happen if we just prayed for it. As soon as we stepped unto the field, this huge wind of God blew on us and we started to fly. Then.... Karen woke up.

That was her dream a few days ago, and I think it was exactly what she needed. FAITH. The dream encouraged me as well, that Karen sees me as her companion on her spiritual journey. That we would worship God together, hold each others accountable, encourage, edify, and comfort each others. And, yes I need more faith too. We all do. There is never a ceiling to how much faith one can gain, so always push it higher and higher.

Their Needs
I was just discussing with David and Karen about our house church situation and about God in general, when they told me about their encounter with the audible voice of God. They had both had the experience of hearing God calling their names out loud! (Just like Andy's experience, you can go ask him more about the detail.) But that just opened up my eyes more about the people who are in our house church.... people who are anointed and have great potentials that God has placed in them, however, they need to break free from whatever that's binding them to be fully used by God and walk in the fullness of His authority and power. I have also realized how luck I am to be in IHC, where I learned to always have a purpose doing just anything (Jack & Annie, "What's your purpose?"), being mentored with discipleship and love, and just having brothers and sisters that can hold each others accountable all the time. I have not known any leaders in H.C. who has all three of what I just said. They either don't have mentors, maintain no fellowship with the people at their church, or don't just grow spiritually period. I have come to a conclusion, and a decision, that I am going to start a campus church that contains four simple characteristics: 1) Bring God to men, instead of men to God. (Organic Church) 2) Intimacy with Christ as well as brothers and sisters in Him. (First Commandment & Fellowship & Discipleship) 3) Walk in the fullness of God's power and make disciples of all over the campus (Great Commission) 4) Fast & pray lifestyle & public worship on campus (P.U.S.H. & Open Heaven).

Start a Campus Church
My calling might not be about the campuses, but like Jack said, "It might not be your special calling, but it is a good way to reach out." I would love to see UCR being turned and flipped upside down, inside out by God! I believe that, prayers can move God's hands. Have faith when praying, believe it has come to past in Jesus' Name, and it will be done! Amen! Claim your campuses comrades!! (Don't you just love that word 'comrade'?) I believe it is important to do the following if you are serious about your campus' revival...
1. Pray for at least 1 hour a day, even better if you have a consistent fast & pray schedule (Revelation, recharge, intimacy with God...)
2. Worship/preach the gospel publicly (Bring His kingdom down to your campus)
3. Campus invasion (Signs & Wonders and just basically the "action" part of faith)

Don't be afraid if you can't find other people to do this with you. Like in John 5:7, the invalid said to Jesus, "I have no man to help me into the pool when the water is stirred." Those of you who went to Jesus Culture Redding, you remember the "No Man" sermon by Chris Hill. Exactly what the invalid said, you have "no man" to help you. You know, Jesus was no man, He was God man. So you have no man to help you, does that stop you from getting into the water, or does it motivate you to get up and pick up your mat and walk? You can download that sermon at http://www.jesusculture.org/media/index.php?type=3&id=94&foreign_id=94&media_id=131 It is simply incredible! Anyway, my point is... GOD ONLY NEEDS THE FAITH, OBEDIANCE AND WILLINGNESS OF ONE PERSON TO START A MOVEMENT OF REVIVAL! Would you like to be that one person?

Thank you Lord for this generation of young adults who are on fire for bringing Your kingdom here on earth and Your will be done here as in heaven. Keep burning us, empowering us, pour down angels from heaven and overwhelm earth with Your glory and honor. May all nations, from the east to the west, north to the south, bow at Your feet and be in awe of You. I love You Lord, with all my heart, my soul, my spirit, and my mind. I pray that, the revival fire will hit every single college campuses around the globe within 2 years. That even in places where Christians are persecuted, revivals will breakout! For there is nothing impossible in You, and just like the three young men who stood up against the hardest pressure of hardship, You will honor their faith and protect them till the end. Thank You Lord for Your faithfulness and kindness. Blessed be Your Name. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.

-sala<3

Monday, December 3, 2007

Worshiper's Desire

That feeling is back again, hitting me hard. Or was it always there there within me? "I can't get enough of God. This is driving me nuts!" I don't know how much times have I said that to my brothers and sisters in Christ and ask for advise. I felt like I've reached a ceiling of my relationship with my Lord, my Creator, my Love, my Jesus, my God. I need to break through the ceiling, the bottle neck that's killing me and torturing me. Lord I cry out to You, for a closer and deeper connection, relationship with You. I want to know more about You. I want to know what You are seeing, hearing, feeling, and thinking. This urge of consuming God burns constantly and strongly in my heart. Yes that's right. I WANT TO CONSUME GOD!!! And, be consumed by Him! I think I worded it funny when I shared with Alice last night. "I want to eat God" That's what I said. I was so desperate. I need Him so badly. Though I feel His love 24/7, it is becoming unsatisfying to me. My spirit feels so hungry and thirsty, yet so full. God, how can I break my ceiling? How can I breakthrough in leading worship to create an atmosphere for the Holy Spirit to freely intervene? How can I bring Your glory, holiness, and kingdom to the congregation and let them encounter how real, tangible, and deep Your love is? Quoting from Kim Walker's myspace, "I'm praying for an increase of His presence in my worship, so that people will be healed of sickness, mental illness, emotional healing, etc. When God shows up, so does His kingdom and because He is GOOD-ALL THE TIME- there is bound to be healing and miracles and encounters!!" That is my prayer to God as well!! Lord I know Your hands move with my prayers and cries! Praise Him!!

I am recently reading a book called, "The Prophetic Worshiper". After the IHOP prophetic training last time, I have had the urge to know more about prophetic worship. It is when worshipers can use music to be drenched in the fullness of God's presence, Spirit, and power. Knowing God's heart and where He wants to take His people in worship. I didn't open that book since I bought it, and that was a year ago during One Thing. I was just reading the introduction one night and the words were so powerful, and just by reading it, I can feel God's presence, so strongly! At the end of the introduction I was filled by the Holy Spirit and could not stop moving like Lou Angle. I went on my knees immediately and just simply dwell in His majesty and presence. It was incredible. I will share with You guys about the book after I'm done reading it. However, anyone who is interested can surely check the book out from IMPACT's library. The book is by Pablo Perez, and the book name, again, is "The Prophetic Worshiper".

I need a breakthrough. (It's already December, is it too late?)

-sala<3