Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Lord, Break me!

On Sunday night after I got back to Riverside I received a text msg from one of our leaders, Daniel, saying we got a prayer meeting at 11pm. Me and Ruth went and the first word I heard right after I got in the door was somebody shouting "HALLELUJAH!!" I didn't know who it was cause the voice didn't sound familiar, so I looked and found out it was a guy sitting on a wheelchair who shouted it. His name is Alan, he met Daniel at the gym while watching basketball games and he was trying to evangelize to Daniel and his roommate. The reason Alan is on the wheelchair is not because of any injury, but due to infantile paralysis (小兒麻痺) which caused him trouble in speaking, walking and doing other things. When he speaks he would need to use his whole body's strength to get some of the words out, and his face would twitch. But, I was so encouraged by him because he does not see his disability as a blockage towards spreading the good news, praying for others, reaching out to the lost souls or praising God as loud as he could. When Daniel asked him to pray for us to start the meeting off, 90% of his prayer was filled with words of praise and gratitude towards God. He started sharing about the necessity for the body of Christ to be awaken to receive the urgency of the hour to spread the Gospel to anyone we encounter on a daily basis. He asked us, "How many of you are hungry for souls?" There is no more time left because Jesus is coming soon. Too soon as Anthony puts it. I started balling in repentance when we all started praying together for ourselves and others. If a guy like Alan, who doesn't even have the ability to put a jacket on by himself, can have the boldness, obedience, and love to reach out to the lost souls, what the heck am I doing? So encouraged by him.

This morning I woke up and I prayed, "Lord let me get a soul into Your Kingdom today". After class, I walked by a girl sitting on the stairs and I had such a strong conviction to go tell her about the Lord, but I didn't. I was walking pass her and I really wanted to turn around and talk to her but I just walked slower and slower and never turned back. Grrrr.... While I was walking away, Daniel's prayer rang in my head, "The blood for those we didn't preach the good news to are on our hands." When I was driving my roommate to her class, the radio station was playing this song "Empty Me". It's exactly what I needed to pray for and I believe God is trying to tell me a message about it. I went home and prayed the prayer I was so afraid to pray for 2 or 3 years. "Lord, break me so You can reshape me into the vessel You delight."

I used to pray this prayer everyday in Freshmen year, and the Lord was faithful. So many things happened to me I can't even describe all of it in an hour, but I was really broken and He did reshape me in an super amazing way. I don't regret what happened but I was afraid to encounter those things or even worse things. However, now I believe it's time for the Lord to break me once again. I know He is good all the time so I'm ready Lord. Let it come.

Empty Me - Chris Sligh


-sala<3

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Good bye 2008! Hello 2009!!

Yes, last post of this awesome year. Whew! So many things happened this year it's crazzzyyyyy!!

Well... let's just say that i've grown yet another year older (some kid called me "auntie" last week... sniff sniff), wiser (um, yea hopefully), skinnier (once upon a time in Oct/Nov), closer w/ the Lord and some lovely people. It was a fun year. Started w/ LTC crying for my family's salvation, to april crying out for the end of abortion, then sept-nov crying out for TheCall/presidential election/UCR revival. The Lord has been using my tears, my prayers and the sound of my empty stomach growling... and showed Himself in a mighty way.

Right now is 30 min. away from 12am January 1st 2009!! I don't wanna use up the time to write out what has happened, just read my previous blog if you wanna know.

I wanna thank some people here for what they've done for me in 2008...
Mom/Sisters - Thanks for always being there for me even though I'm a jerk to you guys sometimes. We're always able to turn the angry atmosphere to a happy family harmony time. Really thankful for another wonderful year w/ you guys. Muah!
Jack/Annie - You guys are true heros. Sorry for what I didn't do well and thank you for what I've done well. Can't be who I am today w/o you two lovely mommy/daddy! Can't wait to see little beannie lah~~ Excited for you guys!
Eric - Once again, thanks for being a true friend who cares, corrects, encourages and just always being there. You're cool. =)
John - You crazily anointed worshiper! Thanks for everything this year. It's indescribable. Keep being an awesome encouragement because you are. "Don't Quit!" Ps. you're gonna be an uncle. lol. Odie!
Enoch - Thank you for being the best reminder and procrastination-stopper this year! What would WR do w/o you? Thanks partner!
Andy - Law Shi! Thanks for being such an encouragement and giving me the faith of dating none-Christian guys. lol, jk. But seriously, your powerful and persistent prayer really encouraged lots of people. Yes! Our prayers can move God's hand to bring our friends to Christ too just like Shinny did! God provides!
Aaron - Oowwww!!! O anointed one! Onmmm! Double gun! Hahaha we had so much fun! Thanks buddy for being crazy w/ me! =)
Tina - BFF! You crazy lady. This year we've accomplished many things together. Partner! Remember that sailing vision? Let's keep it up in 2009 too, and we will reach that promise land! Love you!
MoMo - Busy animated a-mo. Really glad to have you in my life. I can always talk to you about ANYTHING! We'd laugh together, cry together, pray together and have coffee together. Thank you so much. Your friendship means a lot a lot to me!!! Muah* Thanks for everything.
Tiffa - Thanks for being an awesome sister, for loving me, helping me, praying for me, giving me advises and comforts when I needed them. You have grown so much in Christ and I'm so proud of you. *tears of proud mama* T___T Your fire literally sets others on fire too! Keep it burning girl! Come 'n come 'n catch that fire!!!
Jennifer - Cool kungfu lady. You're crazy beautiful, talented and w/ such a huge growing capacity. Thanks for being my friend and giving me words of encouragement, edification and comfort in my times of needs. I pray one day I'll be as cool as you. Hehe x) Keep rocking that paint brush! Ps. There should be more times like last night's good time. Love you sweetie.
Joy - You know, you're probably the most encouraging person at impact (for caring network and discipleship). Your consistency and diligence for calling people up, hanging out w/ them, praying for them, disciplining them and just being a part of their lives really truly hit me hard. "I wanna be like Joy!" Bao you grew up to be Big Bao Jieh Jieh loh~ ^__^
Shinny - Thank you for being a role model at impact. Keep burning for Jesus everyday. Your lifestyle shows Jesus living inside of you! Love ya pretty punk drummer singer lady! <3
WR - Thanks to all the kids and parents for providing me the ground for God to use me, mold me and train me. Every kid is so unique and lovely. Lord, I really want to love them like how You do! Help me become better. Amen.
Ruth - You are the best partner ever! (At UCR) Always keeping me on task and pulling me up when I fall. You've seen my glorious moments and my big fat failures. You were always rooting up for me. Thanks. You're an amazing woman of God! Let's run together harder in 2009 yea?! =D
Karen - You are the best roommate/rat ever! lol. Thank you for being a spiritual mom/sister at UCR. Truly, you are like my family. I love you and miss living w/ you. Your puffy hair after shower, you rat attack of piling on my back... so memorable and sweet.
Brian - You are the most incredible and genuine and humble man of God i've ever known. I thank God for letting me be a part of your life as well as the other way around. You are the best mama/obagum ever!! I miss your bedtime stories and late late night meals. =( I can't find any other person on earth like you. Seriously, God is IN you so greatly you don't even know! Don't Doubt! *Hugs*
Revivalists @ UCR - Your fire kept my fire up. Thank you all, my powerful and lovely comrades. Let's keep the unity and hardcore prayer/worships and see the campus taken completely by our Lord this upcoming quarter!! Yeaaa!!

And everyone else who's been through tears, laughter and delicious food w/ me. Thank you for being a part of my 2008! You guys are just so loved by God and of course by me too! God bless you all and hope you all have a wonderful new year! ^______^

-sala<3

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Kenny Komorida - The fastest spiritual growth ever seen!

Kenny's 1.5 Weeks Adventure With Jesus

Thurs. 12/4 - Accepted Jesus into his heart
Fri. 12/5 - Got delivered from the burden of pursuing worldly success and encountered God's tangible love
Sat. 12/6 - Experienced and received the gift of prophecy for the first time
Sun. 12/7 - Went to church for the 1st time in a long time. Took off all Buddhist allotments, replaced w/ cross. Delivered from demonic spirits, filled by the Holy Spirit.
Mon. 12/8 - Found a church through one of his best friends. Started memorizing Bible verses.
Tues. 12/9 - Started Bible study w/ me and Ruth
Wed. 12/10 - Heel healed by God supernaturally. Went running for the 1st time in 3 months!
Thurs. 12/11 -
Fri. 12/12 -
Sat. 12/13 - Went rock climbing and encountered supernatural strength.
Sun. 12/14 - Went to church w/ his friend. Almost stood up for alter call.
Mon. 12/15 - Got hit hard in the face by the Holy Spirit. (Kenny's own words)
Tues. 12/16 - Baptized and gave his heart, soul, spirit, life completely to Jesus.


Met him last year through Brian and Karen. He came to GTM a few times and so we became friends. Back then he was from a Buddhist family and so was his girlfriend. I remember me, Karen, Brian used to pray for his and his girlfriend's salvation.

Beginning this quarter, me and Ruth invited him to come to GTM and so he came a couple of times. Then starting then, our friendship started building up and we started hanging out more. Don't remember when it started, but he became like Brian last year, who would come to our apartment everyday and hang/cook/chat/play... etc. It went on like this until the last week of this quarter. Which was two weeks ago. On Thursday, 12/4/08, Brian came back to UCR to get his diploma and visit us, but it wasn't ready for him so he was able to hang w/ us more. After dinner, Brian suggested us go worship God in my room, so we did. A few days before that day, Brian send me an e-mail telling me how recently he has lost his purpose and fire in serving God, and that he felt so empty spiritually yet had no longing for Him. So basically, one of the purposes of Brian's visit was to receive, but God did something completely different...

Ruth started playing guitar and we started worshiping/praying till Brian asked me where that little yellow booklet was. (Kinda like the Four Spiritual Law booklet) Then he started to use that booklet and shared the Good News with Kenny. To our amazement, Kenny accepted Jesus right there and then!! Hallelujah Praise the Lord!! We worshiped and at the end Brian shared his heart and prayed for all of us. In his sharing and prayer, Kenny started tearing up. I for one, couldn't stop my tears from coming out. (I've never tear up so many times from a prayer.) The presence of the Lord was so thick in the room that all walls were broken down. Praise the Lord!

The next day, Sylvia, my roommate asked if I wanted to go with her to a revival conference in LA at night. She said she asked Kenny, and to her amazement, he said he would go too. So we went and it was a Korean praise night so everything was in Korean except the sermon. The speaker was Matthew Barnett, the pastor from Dream Center. He shared about how God let him die to the dream of success but live the dream of helping others to achieve their success, so his success will come naturally. Afterwards Kenny shared about how during the sermon it was as if something heavy was lifted from his heart, and he felt lighter. He has always been striving for worldly success all his life and now he said he felt relieved. He also encountered God's tangible love during worship. After we went back to my apartment, he started sharing about his past and how difficult it has been for him due to his family issues and his ex. Before he went home I asked how I can pray for him, and he said, "rest". I did and then he went home.

Saturday, I went back to Riverside at night and saw Kenny at my place. He told me that he received a prophetic message this morning for the first time. (He didn't know it's called a "prophecy" at the time) He said, "Usually when I get up I'll just be really dead and not able to think at all, but this morning for the first time, I was so wide awake and the first thought came into my head was to tell you (me) that you have to better organize your life so you can have more time for God. And what Brian said to me about my purpose being here all the time w/ you and Sylvia, I think it's to help you guys." At the time I didn't understand the prophecy (it's my first time receiving direct and specific prophecy from God through another person like that), cause I thought I had pretty well organized my schedule this quarter. Cuz I studied extra hard, served extra hard, and at that time I had all B's in my classes. However, after Kenny left and I went to brush my teeth. Suddenly I saw a vision of an evil big monkey sitting at a dark corner starting at me with its big scary yellow eyes gleaming from the darkness. At once I realized why that prophecy was so urgent. During freshmen year, I was extremely on fire for God that I would wake up at 5am every morning to prayer walk the entire UCR campus, either with others or by myself, I would go to all the Christian fellowships and dig out revivalists to share visions and pray w/ them... etc. I gave so much to a point where I reached a spiritual deficit because I wasn't constantly receiving. I then entered a season of an extreme spiritual warfare in which I would have demonic and grotesque images and motion pictures in my head 24/7 while trying hard to get back in shape of my relationship w/ Jesus. It was terrible and I tried every kind of method I know to set myself free but none worked. It all ended with a prayer and a vision of big bright yellow evil wolf eyes that started at me, with the message that told me, "I'm letting you go this time, but next time it wouldn't be so easy." After that everything was back to normal. And, how this would relate to my current situation was that, I'm kinda in a spiritual deficit again. At least, one step away from falling down the cliff of it in which I did not even realize. Praise the Lord who is mighty to save, for He rescued me from the door step of satan's snitch. Hallelujah. My God is greatly to be praised!!

On Sunday, after church and after dinner, I was looking through Kenny's keychains and charm he hung on his DS case. He was telling me who gave him this one and that one, when suddenly, as I was holding this fake jade charm, I felt like I got electricuted spiritually by whatever that's inside of that thiing. I dropped it immediately. (Not the DS, just the charm ok) It's as if my spirit, or the Holy Spirit within me, was completely rejecting it. I told Kenny what just happened to me and he got really nervous. He said he didn't know where it's from, he just found it in his room one day and he kept it. It looks like this, and I found out it's called "magatama", which represents the shape of human spirit in Japan.
http://homepage3.nifty.com/yoshihito/magatama-1.jpg
I still had aftershock of touching it after 5 minutes. I explained to Kenny about a spirit living inside of that thing and taught him how to cast it out in Jesus' Name because he has accepted Jesus and willing to surrender all of him to Him so he has the authority to do so. He did it. (But he was being too nice to "it" so I did it for him) Actually after Kenny tried to cast it out, that spirit said to Kenny, "Who are you to cast me out?" I shouldn't have told him it said that, cuz after I told him he was really scared that it got mad and is gonna go after him now. Afterwards, I couldn't feel that spirit anymore and the jade felt emptied. (It's my first time casting out demons! God is good.) Then we didn't know what to do w/ that charm, so I texted Jack at like 2ish am. He gave me a whole procedure of casting out demonic spirits and the afterwards process. Thanks!!

Then a whole bunch of things happened... then on Monday, two days ago, Kenny send us an e-mail telling us that he has decided to be baptized on Tuesday!!! Which was yesterday!! All of us were so surprised and overjoyed. We drove to Irvine for his baptism and there were over 20 people getting baptized. It was a glorious night of great harvest. Halleujah!!! Today Kenny shared w/ me that he felt he's a new born person and that he's got the fear of the Lord in him that he's afraid to do bad things now. Praise the Lord for this new born baby in Christ, and may the Lord help him in all he does and wherever he goes he shall prosper in Jesus' Name! Amen.

Ps. The Lord delivered him from all his past grudges, sadness, and hurt last night. Amazing.

-sala<3

Saturday, December 6, 2008

The Lord uses the weak and the meek

Brian, the previous GTM leader, came to Riverside last night. After dinner, we started worshiping God and Brian started sharing. The first thing he did was to lead Kenny to Christ. (If you check my facebook often enough you'll see his name/picture all over the place.) Now, if I was the Sarah I used to be, I would just condemn myself for not taking this step before Brian did. C'mon, I hang out with Kenny almost every day this entire quarter and I've never talked to him about giving his life to Jesus. Here is Brian, who came back for the first time at the last week of this quarter, and there he led Kenny to the sinner's prayer. I would be envy Brian and blame myself very much if it was back then. But, throughout these years, the Lord has taught me and changed my ways of thinking. No longer do I self-condemn or envy the work of the Lord done by others but not me, now I have learned to praise God for good work that He's done to others either through me or other people. Also, learning that God has always His perfect plan of perfect timing, people, and place, I know that it is possibly set up by the Lord to have Brian come and share Jesus with Kenny and led him to receive salvation. Praise God I'm receiving more personal growth!! For a while I've been worried for I have not been growing or receiving any new personal revelations for a month. Thanks Jesus!

Originally Brian came to get his diploma, but it wasn't ready for him so he was able to stay for dinner and the awesome God time that night. As Brian shared with us that he is currently in a stage of low spiritual fuel and is in desperate need for more of Him, that is one of the reason why he came as well. In seeking to get oil and encouragement from us, instead, his words and prayers boosted up our faith and filled up our gas tank for the Lord. God has used Brian in a mighty way that the presence of the Lord was so thick in the room that me and Kenny started to tear up. I've never ever hear someone share/pray and tear up so many times. Seriously, the Lord can use anyone even when they are at their weakest stage, as long as he is willing and obedient. Me, Ruth and Kenny all were challenged, encouraged, fed and our hearts were stirred. After Brian left, me and Ruth sat down and started evaluating GTM for this entire quarter. We wrote down a whole list of people, including old members and new comers, and committed to do caring network w/ all of them on a weekly basis. Must begin w/ building a strong leadership team since after next quarter I'll be gone and Ruth is planning to go study abroad after this year. I'm reading the book "Master of Relationships" by Rick Zachary. I need to really develop my team building skills so I'll be able to have my three closest comrades and G-12.

Ps. Lord I'm holding unto Your promise and won't lose hope. Dad will come to Christ before 2009. Amen.

-sala<3

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

This is why I go to the Belltower everyday

God brought two sisters to my apartment. Totally unexpected.
I didn't know one of them, and it turned out that she was one of the people passing by the Belltower whom we prayed for last quarter!!
We were holding the "Can We Pray For You?" sign and just praying for random people.
She said it with such an excitement, "Oh my gosh!! You were one of the people who prayed for me last quarter at the belltower! You have no idea how you guys made my day. I was having a pretty bad day cuz of school and stuffs but oh boy, just the idea of praying for people and those people could possibly be saved and touched by God just made that day the best day ever!! That's why I go back to belltower everyday to see if you guys are still around!"

I was so encouraged... wow. Lord, I repent that I've been lazy to go out there this quarter. God is so good. He surely knows how to get to me. I believe this is one of those divine appointments that God sets up. I'm definitely continuing next quarter with the prayer offering on campus. Last year KCM (Korean Campus Ministry) was doing it too (they're the ones on UCR newspaper), I think they stopped this quarter as well. Let's encourage each others to put our faith into actions!!

More testimony from Awaken! UCR!
(1) 8 people wrote down their email address wanting to know more about Jesus during the event!! God lead us to be good shepherds who lay down their lives for their sheep.
(2) Justin, one of the guitarists in the worship team for Monday, shared with us during the emergency worship practice the night before the event that he's always been overwhelmed with guilt and shame. We all laid hands on him and prayed for deliverance right away. A few days ago Crystal told me that Justin told her that he is now completely free of guilt and shame, Jesus delivered him!! Hallelujah!!! Yes, Lord, set the captives free!

-sala<3