Abide with me

I am still in the second day of complaints free world. I have found my weakness upon being sarcastic especially with some people who I don't get to talk to often to try to be funny. As a foreigner, speaking English never gets easy, especially in meetings so I start being funny by talking some complains in a fashion of sarcastic to break some ices. I have done my best not saying anything but still sometimes old me comes out without a warning, so here I come to switch my arm bend.
I notice more and more how sinful my life has been especially using negative words upon even not that important. While participating this complaints free world series, I have been convicted more than anytime before. Most of my morning prayers has been confessing my sins lately.

I have chosen the anthem for this week with a deep prayer as a plea to the Lord that we may continue living positively in only one condition- abided in Him completely. We need Jesus to abide within us completely to pursue His ways to live this world.

Even though God has been convicting me greatly, I am so grateful. Because of His grace, and mercy, my sins are forgiven. That is why I could still have my bracelet on my wrist.

I pray that we may be able to pray together in one Spirit, one heart, and one voice to lift up this song on this Sunday.

Abide with me

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
the darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;
earth's joys grow dim; its glories pass away;
change and decay in all around I see;
O thou who changest not, abide with me.

I need thy presence every passing hour.
What but thy grace can foil the tempter's power?
Who, like thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

I fear no foe, with thee at hand to bless;
ills have no weight, and tears not bitterness.
Where is death's sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if thou abide with me.

Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes;
shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee;
in life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

Near to the Heart of God

Even though I am still in day one with the purple bracelet, I have been fully grateful each time when I need to switch it to my other wrist. God has started telling me about His unhappiness upon my behaviors and attitudes a way before the bracelet was given. God told me whether I liked it or not, that I need to stop them and confess my sins for sake of me. I have done one by one for time to time but found out that I still repeat the same thing and there was not “transformation” yet. So, when I got this bracelet, I prayed for God’s great mercy upon me to really change my words, actions, and attitudes. Day one, I did four times changing the bracelet over just anything big but my habitable words and complaints. I have noticed how sinful I was in a daily base. Day two, I did switched twice while I was driving route 50 and blamed the construction and slow pork drivers were reasons that I complained. At that night, God revealed to me that the blaming part was to be confessed, so I did but sadly. On third day, I was discouraged by recognizing how sinful I was so I had a long face in front of God at my prayer time. And God showed me a purple robe of Jesus while I was confessing my long lists of sins. God reminded me that the bracelet is not about controlling my behaviors or habits, but a reminder of God’s grace that Jesus were wearing for us until the cross. I cried for a while because of God’s love and grace upon us. He is not trying to catch me and convict in every single sins to judge but rather He wants me to remember His grace and mercy pour out through Jesus upon me to set me free. What a relief and comfort! So, on third day, I was encouraged to wear it as a symbol of God’s grace. In Hebrew 4:14-16, Paul shares, “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” 

God knows who we are more than we know who we are. What I need to do is confessing that I can’t go on to even day 2 without His help, and I am forgiven by His grace and mercy each day. He wants us to live with real freedom which is given by Jesus’s redemption when we confess that we are all sinners without His grace and mercy.

I would like to share the lyric of an anthem for 11:00 o’clock this week because it is a prayer for the same matter. I pray that we all have a chance to experience God’s grace and mercy through this challenge and it brings us to go nearer to the heart of God.

Near to the Heart of God

Draw me nearer, nearer, blessed Lord, to the cross where Thou hast died; draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord, to Thy precious bleeding side.

There is a place of comfort sweet near to the heart of God, a place where we our Savior meet, near to the heart of God. O Jesus, blest Redeemer, sent from the heart of God, holds us who wait before Thee near to the heart of God.

There is a place of full release near to the heart of God, a place where all is joy and peace, near to the heart of God. O Jesus, blest Redeemer, sent from the heart of God, hold us who wait before Thee near to the heart of God.

What wondrous love is this

I feel that time is flying by faster than before. It’s March already! And the third Sunday of Lent is coming. I have been blessed having my mom with me for two and a half months since December. She is heading home tomorrow, Wednesday. We didn’t do much, but I have spent time with her as much as I could. We have watched TV, talked, walked, and we have attended  a dawn prayer service together. I have thought about the time that I have had with her. Even though we had some exciting trips and events, “staying” with her was the most precious gift. I am sure that I will miss her more than before. It has led me to think about “abiding” in Christ, as we have heard the word through Tom’s sermons. Somehow, I feel that abiding is more like living 24-7 together-- not only during worship service or prayer time, but also in each moment of my daily activities. It is my lifetime goal that I abide in Christ 24-7.

On this third Sunday of Lent, the Sonrise Singers will praise God with a song called, “On Holy Ground” at the 8:00 AM service. I have chosen the song and imagine that we are all surrounded with angels to praise and worship God together at the service.  At the 11:00 AM service, the Sanctuary Choir will sing one of my favorite anthems,“ What Wondrous Love is This” as an offertory and the Viva Voce vocal ensemble will sing a beautiful song, “Pie Jesu” in Latin during communion.  I pray that we truly learn how to abide in Christ 24-7 by having tuneful hearts and endless thirst toward our Savior during this Lent.

These are the texts of these two beautiful songs. Shalom!

What Wondrous Love is This

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul; what wondrous love is this, O my soul! What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss to bear the dreadful curse for my soul!

When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down; I was sinking down, sinking down. When I was sinking down beneath God’s righteous frown, Christ laid aside His crown for my soul!

To God and to the Lamb I will sing, I will sing; to God and to the Lamb I will sing! To God and to the Lamb, who is the great “I AM,” while millions join the theme, I will sing!

When from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on, and when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on. And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing and joyful be, and through eternity I’ll sing on!

Pie Jesu (Merciful  Jesus)

Merciful Jesus, who takes away the sins of the world, grant them rest.

O Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, grant them eternal rest. 

Arise, my soul, arise!

I have realized that seeking God all the time is a hard task. My daily life routine is already trained to run without stopping and asking, “What is God’s will” each moment.  Even though I do have moments to pray and read God’s word, I find that I naturally live without seeking Him every moment.  So, during this week, I have intentionally put my antennae higher to alert myself to hear God’s voice more often. I have sent memos and emails to several friends I haven’t talked with in awhile, and I did use my time more productively than before. However, without His help, my body goes back to the routine quickly without a doubt. Apostle Paul in Ephesians strongly urges to us to,“ Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,  making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” I pray that we all make the most of every opportunity to understand what the Lord’s will is and to obey Him in our actions especially this Lent.

On this second Sunday of Lent our worship service is filled with beautiful music. The Sanctuary Choir’s anthem at the 11:00 AM service will be a recently composed song for a choir and violin called, “Arise, My Soul,  Arise.” Maryann Williams will play the violin solo with the choir. Call to Harmony will lift up an offertory. At the 8:00 AM service, you will have a chance to hear one Bach’s famous violin partitas with Maryann on the violin.

The lyrics of the anthem, “Arise, My Soul, Arise” are like a poem.

Arise, my soul, arise. Shake off thy guilty fears. The bleeding Sacrifice in my behalf appears. Before the Throne, my Surety stands. My name is written on His hands.

Five bleeding wounds He bears, received on Calvary, they pour effectual prayers, they strongly plead for me: “Forgive him, O forgive, “they cry. “Nor let that ransomed sinner die. “

My God is reconciled, His voice I hear, He owns His child, I can no longer fear. With confidence I know draw nigh. And “Abba, Father” cry.

Arise, my soul, arise! And “Father, Abba, Father,” cry. Arise, my soul, arise.

First week of Lent

As I shared with you in last week’s post, Ash Wednesday is this Wednesday. Some of us already have started our Lenten study and others will start soon and look at six decisions that will change our lives. I have thought about how hard it is to be transformed or changed particularly after a certain age. We have our own thoughts and strong wills about how to live in this world. As I have thought about two questions from last Sunday’s sermon—“What are you looking for?” and “Where are you abiding?”-- I have to add for myself, “Do I really want to be transformed by God?” I have found that I can say “yes” on the outside, but I always have excuses and reasons that hinder me from being completely surrendered.  Above all, I do have as an ultimate life goal to be fully surrendered to God and I pray for His help to press on especially during this Lent. Yes, with God’s help!

This Sunday the Sonrise Singers will lift up, “Beneath the Cross” as an offertory at the 8:00 AM service. “Many Gifts, One Spirit” will be offered as an anthem at the 11:00 AM service by the Sanctuary Choir. Both songs are two of my favorite anthems and the lyrics are like prayers. These may seem to be on a different topic from the sermon series, but they show us that though we all have different callings to live in this world as children of God, we all are called to be a whole-- a family in Christ.

May the Lord help us each day to surrender more and more to Him until we are completely surrendered!

Here are the lyrics to “Many Gifts, One Spirit.”

Many gifts, one spirit, many songs, one voice. Many reasons, one promise. Many questions, one choice.

O God, we pray for unity, give guidance from above. In our differences unite us in the circle of Your love.

O God, remind us, we are not alone. Though we move on different pathways, we are walking to your throne.

Help us learn to love each other, show us ways to understand. We are members of one family, growing strong by joining hands.

O God, remind us, we are not alone. Though we move on different pathways, we are walking to Your throne.

Take our many ways of working, blend the colors of each soul into the beauty of a rainbow.

Give us life, Lord, make us whole.  

Music During Lent

As we all know, Lent is near. In the early churches and still in some Catholic Church traditions, the “Gloria” sections in music are omitted during worship services for Lent. Psalms are used instead. I follow this tradition and look for music that is more calm, meditative, prayerful, and intimate during the Lenten season.

Lent starts on Ash Wednesday –February 13 this year. Even though Lent may not be as exciting as Advent, it is certainly one of my favorite seasons. I have thought that one similariity between Advent and Lent is “preparation.”  Even though preparations are totally different in Advent and Lent, our hearts prepare in similar ways. We anticipate and prepare with excitement during Advent for the birth of Jesus and we prepare with prayers and repentance for resurrection through the Cross during Lent. Many people give up one or two things for Lent to remind themselves to be more aware of the meaning of Lent. How about you? Are you planning to do something special during this Lenten season?

I have decided to participate in our Lenten study, along with reciting Psalms to myself each day. I am excited and I pray that I will grow more mature in my faith in Him during this time.

This Sunday, you will be offered a moment to think about the coming season of Lent through the song, “Kyrie” at the 11:00 AM service. This Kyrie is from a cantata titled, “Memorial” that was composed in memory of the victims of the September 11 tragedy. This particular song is written in Latin, “Kyrie Eleison, Christe Eleison (Lord, have mercy, Christ, have mercy). “ A Kyrie has been sung as an opening prayer for years. It pleads for God’s mercy first before we offer anything to God during worship. I have chosen this song intentionally for this Sunday to prepare our hearts for Lent . We can humbly ask that God’s  mercy and grace be upon us so that we are healed and cleansed.

Children’s voices of praise will be offered at the 9:15 AM and 11:00 AM services and the Floris Strings will share a prelude, “Just a Closer Walk ”as a prelude at the 11:00 AM service.

Let’s lift up together, “Kyrie Eleison, Christe Eleison” with our hearts.