(Photo courtesy of Wade Chan)
2 Timothy 1:7
Often times, I don't always see the good that is in the world or in people or even in myself. I'm so focused on the broken parts, that it's hard to see the good parts. Yet, as I enter into this new era of grace in my life - learning how to be more patient with myself and others of being in process, I'm learning to see the blessings that God has given me - the good parts of myself and others. I am thankful for the ways that my parents raised me to be hard-working and disciplined growing up as a child. I studied hard and learned how to manage my time at a young age - and developed a love for reading and learning. My parents instilled in me a value for education and the value of pursuing higher education - and for this I am thankful. I think that's why I'm the nerd that I am and why I love studying, learning, and reading. (It's honestly ironic that I write this post in the middle of finals week, where I am losing motivation to really do anything, but I guess this is why I need to write it.) Since I played piano and violin, and was highly involved in church - I had to learn to not waste time and value every second of it in high school. I think this is the reason why I might not struggle as much in school as others around me, even in graduate school - and for this I am thankful and know that it is an evidence of God's grace in my life. I know He is the One who empowers me to study, and has given me this passion for learning and for education.
After studying the Pastoral Epistles this past semester and seeing how much Paul encourages Timothy to be disciplined - like a soldier, an athlete, or a hard-working farmer (2 Timothy 2) - to be disciplined towards godliness, I am reaping the fruits of the habits of discipline that I have developed even at a young age. Even at a young age, I know that God was working in my life to help me pursue this virtue of discipline. Even if I didn't know it, the Holy Spirit was there, helping me as a young high school student who wanted to pursue excellence. I did have a genuine desire to pursue excellence for God and to make the most out of the opportunity that my parents had given me - being a second generation Filipino-American - and perhaps, this is what motivates me to continue studying, even during finals - when I feel tired and weary, and the 18 years of studying without taking a break is finally catching up to me. In these times, I remember God's grace to me in the past, the privilege He has given me to even be able to study something I love - Him and His Word, and the hope to the future of going deeper in the depths of the knowledge of God and helping others see and savor Him more and more by eventually teaching at the university or seminary level...
So I press on...
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12-14
The other day, I went to my classmates' church, and it was truly a joy seeing the guys who I study with actively ministering to others in their churches. It's just so strange and interesting to see these guys who are just normal dudes in my classes as pastors and teachers, and leaders of churches. It truly is a privilege to be studying with them, and seeing how God is using them for His Kingdom work and His glory. Now as I look around and see my classmates, I see not only them, but also the group of people they minister to - and as each one is being equipped during this time in seminary - they are also representing a group who they will be equipping, and then those others who that group will be equipping...this is really exciting to me...
I believe God is going to do powerful things in this generation and the next generation...
I can feel it coming...
My friend Eui is going to IHOP (International House of Prayer) in Kansas City because she really has a passion to pray for the churches, especially in this area. As I've been visiting different churches with her, I feel led to do the same - to really pray for the my fellow classmates' ministries and churches because I know God is going to great things in this generation...I am so excited!
Whoooooooooo!
So if you would like prayer for you or your ministry, let me know, I'd love to pray for you :)
Please pray for me too. I need prayers to get through this week (since my own motivation is dying...I know I need some supernatural motivation) :)
