Saturday, November 27, 2010
MORE party in heaven!!
It happened all again tonight. More little kids were led to Christ tonight. Some who weren't sure of their salvation and others who had never heard the Gospel. Unfortunately, I wasn't there as Alice told the Good News using the EvangeCube, since I was downstairs playing piano accompaniment for the adults. But I was able to pray with the kids. Just did a count, there was a total of 7 kids who joined God's family. WHOOT!!!!! PRAISE THE LORD!!!! HALLELUJAH!!
Cupcake Tour!
Last night, while I was blogging, Jane was busy decorating cupcakes (Alice did a few). Each one was a work of art - so I figured, I should be nice and share the love :) .
Note: I had one chance at each of these cupcakes, so forgive the low quality :P ...
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| General Overview 1 |
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| General Overview 2 |
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| This one I call "brains", but Jane says it's just "squigglies" :P |
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| Note the change in saturation of brown for the middle ring. |
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| A form of basket weaving? |
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| Jane's second favorite |
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| Frosted leaves |
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| Simplicity |
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| I think Al made this one |
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| Alice likes single or duo tones |
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| MY FAVORITE!! |
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| Twirling leaves |
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| I think this looks like Lion Brand "Homespun" yarn :P It's cool nonetheless. |
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| Jane's attempt to use up the white and light brown |
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| Jane was trying to do a leaf pattern, didn't quite work, but whoever gets this cupcake is getting a lot of icing :) . |
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| Daisy/Sunflower/Black-eyedSusan ... we aren't sure which. It's pretty neat, isn't it? |
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| Boring... jk, I think this was Jane's first and her creative juices weren't flowing yet, heehee. |
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| Jane calls this "fireworks". |
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| JANE'S FAVORITE II |
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| JANE'S FAVORITE I |
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| Braids |
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| Alice said she messed up on this one, so Jane added some white streaks. I think it's original. |
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| This one makes me dizzy... |
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| GRAND OVERVIEW!! |
*skips away after publishing post*
Friday, November 26, 2010
And the angels are rejoicing in heaven...
I haven't posted for over 2 months, but here's something exciting - last night, one of my piano students (the son of my piano teacher) accepted Jesus as his Saviour and LORD!! Party in heaven!! (insert Skype rock and party emotes) This boy (Elliot) is 8 years old and his 9 yo brother (Redmund) had just accepted Christ as his Saviour 2 weeks before (my sister shared the gospel with Redmund as I was giving Elliot lessons). Supposedly their father claims to be Catholic and I think their mom is Buddhist. Strange situation, but our God is great! :D
Anyways, last night my family and their family met up with some other families for "Thanksgiving dinner" where turkey and stuffing were side dishes. :P We ate mostly Chinese dumplings with fresh chives from our yard (yummmmmmmy)... and were stuffed. So, we kids (7 of us) decided to play for a bit before desserts. After several rounds of hide-and-seek I made the kids sit in a circle in the playroom with me. I had no idea where I was going, but I hinted to Alice that I wanted to share the good news with these kids and she was really helpful in making sure I was clear in everything I explained thereafter.
I started out with asking what the kids knew about Thanksgiving. They kind of mumble something about Pilgrims, Squanto, turkey and cranberry sauce, etc. One little Muslim girl, named Tajin (sp?), did say we were supposed to give thanks for all our food, clothes, friends, family, etc.
Me: "But, who are we supposed to thank?"
The kids are looking at me like they never thought they had to thank anybody on Thanksgiving day. I tell them that we should be thanking GOD for all things. We went through some other things we could thank God for and then I asked, "And, do you know who God is?"
A couple coherent answers were "Supreme being," (impressive) and "Creator".
I grabbed the word, "Creator" and told of how God created the universe in 6 days and how He created Adam and Eve, the first 2 people on earth. (We stayed on this for a while, since they couldn't get "creating life out of dust and ribs" :P ). I continued with the story of the fall of man, of sin and its consequence, and its effect on all mankind.
Me: "But God loved us, so He sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins and on the third day, conquered death and rose from the dead. If you believe this and pray for Jesus to come into your heart, you can have eternal life with God. If you don't, you will have to go to hell." I had unintentionally scared Elliot with some simple descriptions of hell. So he was practically begging that we pray immediately. And I quote, "Can we please just pray now!?!" I almost chuckled at his fear, but it is so real for him and he had every right to be afraid. I'm just so glad his heart was open then. Alice prayed a "prayer" and Elliot repeated after her. It was a beautiful thing to see.
And why can't joy be free from the taint of regret? *sigh* Remember the Muslim little girl? Well, she was very active in all the discussion above. I even spent extra time to make sure she understood what I was talking about, since I knew it would conflict with her religion. Initially, she was ready to admit she was a sinner and that she was open to accepting Christ as Lord and Savior. She first asked, "Can Jesus just be my prophet?" I firmly replied that she had to have Jesus as both LORD and Savior. We had a little more talk. She sat and thought for a while. Suddenly (I don't know what was going on in her mind), she said she couldn't become a Christian and burst out crying bitter tears. She said she was a Muslim and could not become a Christian, that Muslims were good people and would go to heaven, etc. But I think, deep down, she knew she had sinned and they were not cleared off her slate. She also feared hell.
On the side, I'm not sure if Tajin already knew, but Muslim parents frequently abandon or disown their Christian children. Later this afternoon, a friend told me, in the Koran, it is taught that any Muslim who leaves or believes something other than Islam, they must be killed. Oh the power of Satan... why can't you leave the little children alone?
And perhaps, if you think of it, please pray for Tajin and her family. As well as for me, so that the next time I see her, I won't let the opportunity slip again to pray with her into the arms of our Heavenly Father.
Everyone have a blessed Thanksgiving weekend! 感恩節快樂!!
~Victoria
Anyways, last night my family and their family met up with some other families for "Thanksgiving dinner" where turkey and stuffing were side dishes. :P We ate mostly Chinese dumplings with fresh chives from our yard (yummmmmmmy)... and were stuffed. So, we kids (7 of us) decided to play for a bit before desserts. After several rounds of hide-and-seek I made the kids sit in a circle in the playroom with me. I had no idea where I was going, but I hinted to Alice that I wanted to share the good news with these kids and she was really helpful in making sure I was clear in everything I explained thereafter.
I started out with asking what the kids knew about Thanksgiving. They kind of mumble something about Pilgrims, Squanto, turkey and cranberry sauce, etc. One little Muslim girl, named Tajin (sp?), did say we were supposed to give thanks for all our food, clothes, friends, family, etc.
Me: "But, who are we supposed to thank?"
The kids are looking at me like they never thought they had to thank anybody on Thanksgiving day. I tell them that we should be thanking GOD for all things. We went through some other things we could thank God for and then I asked, "And, do you know who God is?"
A couple coherent answers were "Supreme being," (impressive) and "Creator".
I grabbed the word, "Creator" and told of how God created the universe in 6 days and how He created Adam and Eve, the first 2 people on earth. (We stayed on this for a while, since they couldn't get "creating life out of dust and ribs" :P ). I continued with the story of the fall of man, of sin and its consequence, and its effect on all mankind.
Me: "But God loved us, so He sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins and on the third day, conquered death and rose from the dead. If you believe this and pray for Jesus to come into your heart, you can have eternal life with God. If you don't, you will have to go to hell." I had unintentionally scared Elliot with some simple descriptions of hell. So he was practically begging that we pray immediately. And I quote, "Can we please just pray now!?!" I almost chuckled at his fear, but it is so real for him and he had every right to be afraid. I'm just so glad his heart was open then. Alice prayed a "prayer" and Elliot repeated after her. It was a beautiful thing to see.
And why can't joy be free from the taint of regret? *sigh* Remember the Muslim little girl? Well, she was very active in all the discussion above. I even spent extra time to make sure she understood what I was talking about, since I knew it would conflict with her religion. Initially, she was ready to admit she was a sinner and that she was open to accepting Christ as Lord and Savior. She first asked, "Can Jesus just be my prophet?" I firmly replied that she had to have Jesus as both LORD and Savior. We had a little more talk. She sat and thought for a while. Suddenly (I don't know what was going on in her mind), she said she couldn't become a Christian and burst out crying bitter tears. She said she was a Muslim and could not become a Christian, that Muslims were good people and would go to heaven, etc. But I think, deep down, she knew she had sinned and they were not cleared off her slate. She also feared hell.
On the side, I'm not sure if Tajin already knew, but Muslim parents frequently abandon or disown their Christian children. Later this afternoon, a friend told me, in the Koran, it is taught that any Muslim who leaves or believes something other than Islam, they must be killed. Oh the power of Satan... why can't you leave the little children alone?
And perhaps, if you think of it, please pray for Tajin and her family. As well as for me, so that the next time I see her, I won't let the opportunity slip again to pray with her into the arms of our Heavenly Father.
Everyone have a blessed Thanksgiving weekend! 感恩節快樂!!
~Victoria
Monday, September 20, 2010
The second greatest commandment...
So everyone knows the 2 greatest commandments of the Bible -
First off - who should you love?
In Luke 10, the lawyer asked Jesus how to obtain eternal life.
Jesus returned with the question: "What is written in the law?"
This expert in the law quickly answered the 2 greatest commandments.
Jesus affirms the answer.
Lawyer asks: "Who is my neighbor?"
... [talking and parable] ...
Jesus asks: "Who was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?"
Think on it for a moment. Commonly, God answers questions with a questions, like in the case above. But not only does Jesus ask a question - He turns the issue and responsibility of actually being a neighbor onto us. We don't look for neighbors to love, we be neighbors to everyone around us by loving!!! This is crucial - at least for me.
Secondly - how should we love these neighbors? By following the Golden Rule, of course, right?
IF the command was, "Do to others as they want you to do to them," we would have to give that man what he wanted, because Jesus commanded it. (And that would be bad!!)
But no - turn it around: if you were the alcoholic, what would you want to be done for you? You would want people to help you stop your evil ways, you would want prayer, you would want accountability.
Therefore, that's what you will do for the alcoholic.
Ok, so the alcoholic was NOT the best of examples, but if you think about it, you can help people who reject your act of love, because that is what you would have others do unto you, it builds others up, and it pleases God, provided you do it with the right attitude, in all love and humility.
It's a whole new mentality (at least for me) and it's strange to apply, but I think it makes sense.
And I'm not sure what made me post it. I should go to bed now... :P
Good night world... *signs off*
~Victoria
- You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.
- You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
First off - who should you love?
In Luke 10, the lawyer asked Jesus how to obtain eternal life.
Jesus returned with the question: "What is written in the law?"
This expert in the law quickly answered the 2 greatest commandments.
Jesus affirms the answer.
Lawyer asks: "Who is my neighbor?"
... [talking and parable] ...
Jesus asks: "Who was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?"
Think on it for a moment. Commonly, God answers questions with a questions, like in the case above. But not only does Jesus ask a question - He turns the issue and responsibility of actually being a neighbor onto us. We don't look for neighbors to love, we be neighbors to everyone around us by loving!!! This is crucial - at least for me.
Secondly - how should we love these neighbors? By following the Golden Rule, of course, right?
Luke 6:31 And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.As YOU want men to do to you... YOU are God's Child and you want God's will to be done. Ideally, you will what God wills. And you are bound by the command to do to others as God wills you to do unto them. Sadly, many people twist this command and say, "Well, what should I do for a penniless alcoholic? He wants money to buy more liquor. He wants the money for that."
IF the command was, "Do to others as they want you to do to them," we would have to give that man what he wanted, because Jesus commanded it. (And that would be bad!!)
But no - turn it around: if you were the alcoholic, what would you want to be done for you? You would want people to help you stop your evil ways, you would want prayer, you would want accountability.
Therefore, that's what you will do for the alcoholic.
Ok, so the alcoholic was NOT the best of examples, but if you think about it, you can help people who reject your act of love, because that is what you would have others do unto you, it builds others up, and it pleases God, provided you do it with the right attitude, in all love and humility.
It's a whole new mentality (at least for me) and it's strange to apply, but I think it makes sense.
And I'm not sure what made me post it. I should go to bed now... :P
Good night world... *signs off*
~Victoria
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Just because...
Posting - just because... It's the end of the month and I haven't posted anything... :(
Well, 7 is a good number - biblically it indicates "completeness", so I'll stop there.
And... I was going to post pictures... but they're not on this computer... ;(
It'll just have to wait until August. At least I'll have something to post about by then.
~Victoria~
Since there's really nothing to post about, I'll give updates/random statements. And I think in lists, so -
- I'm on a break from school and a sort-of break from the computer (which I'm obviously not following in order to post this).
- Piano students are fun to teach but it's difficult to accommodate for all the different situations... and piano recitals are interesting things to plan for.
- Preparation for church camping trips and week-long conferences back-to-back provide for terribly confusing excitement and aggravating inconveniences.
- I really really really like studying for the MCAT... even though I don't know if I'm going to take it or not...
- At my orthodontist appt. yesterday, I was reading Chosen by God by R.C. Sproul Jr. (excellent book, btw) and it was soooo funny to see Dr. Meyer's face. "*gasp* Are you reading for fun?!?! You always come into my office with a textbook!!" Haha... then he went on to ask how my studies were going and be shocked that I'm going to be done with my whole degree soon. Heehee... I love CollegePlus! and its ADL methods.
- Being a newbie at pranks can be frustrating... you can't think of anything evil enough... and then you think of something brilliant... and are scared of the consequences... *rolls eyes at self*
- Isaiah is a vividly descriptive book. It really shows how much evil and sin displease God and what He will do if we continue to wallow in our unrighteousness. And then it also depicts and reminds you how He will be the strength of the needy and a tower for the righteous.
And... I was going to post pictures... but they're not on this computer... ;(
It'll just have to wait until August. At least I'll have something to post about by then.
~Victoria~
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
I have a hard time naming these posts...
Ugh - I just get random materials to post now, but I can't get a good summarizing title... :P
[My comments in small purple print.]
Winston Churchill said:
Never give in--never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.
[I really need to work on my perseverance... always.]
Jim Elliot said:
He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.
[I still have to think twice before I can understand that quote.]
Excerpt from Do Hard Things -
Alex and Brett Harris wrote:
A Navajo India tradition says that your conscience is like a small triangle inside your heart . When you know something is wrong, it turns and pricks the flesh of your heart with one of its corners. But when you harden your heart and ignore your conscience, it keeps turning, wearing down its corners in effort to get your attention. Eventually, the triangle gets so worn down that it becomes smooth and circular, spinning around and around in your heart but to no use. You can't even feel it anymore.
[This is scary in a way. You won't even know how dull your conscience has become! And how can you make the "triangle" sharp again?]
Excerpt from Purpose Driven Life -
Rick Warren wrote:
Paul said, "I die daily." There is a moment of surrender, the practice of surrender, which a moment-by-moment and lifelong. The problem with a living sacrifice is that it can crawl off the altar. So you may have to resurrender your life 50 times a day.
[This one is helps me to understand why it's a "living" sacrifice.]
9 ways (or types of people) to draw near to God [Sacred Pathways] -
Gary Thomas wrote:
Heart of Worship [song]
By Matt Redman
I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart
Random: I got my Bible Bee materials in the mail today! WOOHOO!! :D It's just, I've realized how much I have to memorize, and it wasn't a good idea to do it this year while I'm working on the Psalm 119 project :P .
Oh wow - that was a looooong post. :s
[My comments in small purple print.]
Winston Churchill said:
Never give in--never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.
[I really need to work on my perseverance... always.]
Jim Elliot said:
He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.
[I still have to think twice before I can understand that quote.]
Excerpt from Do Hard Things -
Alex and Brett Harris wrote:
A Navajo India tradition says that your conscience is like a small triangle inside your heart . When you know something is wrong, it turns and pricks the flesh of your heart with one of its corners. But when you harden your heart and ignore your conscience, it keeps turning, wearing down its corners in effort to get your attention. Eventually, the triangle gets so worn down that it becomes smooth and circular, spinning around and around in your heart but to no use. You can't even feel it anymore.
[This is scary in a way. You won't even know how dull your conscience has become! And how can you make the "triangle" sharp again?]
Excerpt from Purpose Driven Life -
Rick Warren wrote:
Paul said, "I die daily." There is a moment of surrender, the practice of surrender, which a moment-by-moment and lifelong. The problem with a living sacrifice is that it can crawl off the altar. So you may have to resurrender your life 50 times a day.
[This one is helps me to understand why it's a "living" sacrifice.]
9 ways (or types of people) to draw near to God [Sacred Pathways] -
Gary Thomas wrote:
- Naturalists
- Sensates
- Traditionalists
- Ascetics
- Activists
- Caregivers
- Enthusiasts
- Contemplatives
- Intellectuals
Heart of Worship [song]
By Matt Redman
I'll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart
Random: I got my Bible Bee materials in the mail today! WOOHOO!! :D It's just, I've realized how much I have to memorize, and it wasn't a good idea to do it this year while I'm working on the Psalm 119 project :P .
Oh wow - that was a looooong post. :s
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Some random stuff
Here are some things I remember or found or feel and thought worth sharing :) .
Bellybuttons
Eve and Adam
Never had'em.
[Don't remember where I got it from, but I thought it was funny :) ]
Hearty Renunciation
[...]We need only to recognize God intimately present with us, to address ourselves to Him every moment,that we may beg His assistance for knowing His will in things doubtful, and for rightly performing those which we plainly see He requires of us, offering them to Him before we do them, and giving Him thanks when we have done.
~Brother Lawrence~
From his book: The Practice of the Presence of God
Lastly, a somewhat public declaration that I am ever grateful to my mother for pushing me to practice piano and telling me my mistakes and blunders. I hated it at the time, but if she had not done so, I would be worse at the piano than I am now and would not be able to enjoy the music I play, nor aim for perfection at all times. Thank you, Ma Ma. And thank you Lord, for giving me my wonderful mother.
(Yes - I know, Mother's Day is past and Father's day is coming up. I'm working on his, now. ;) ).
~Victoria~
Bellybuttons
Eve and Adam
Never had'em.
[Don't remember where I got it from, but I thought it was funny :) ]
Hearty Renunciation
[...]We need only to recognize God intimately present with us, to address ourselves to Him every moment,that we may beg His assistance for knowing His will in things doubtful, and for rightly performing those which we plainly see He requires of us, offering them to Him before we do them, and giving Him thanks when we have done.
~Brother Lawrence~
From his book: The Practice of the Presence of God
Lastly, a somewhat public declaration that I am ever grateful to my mother for pushing me to practice piano and telling me my mistakes and blunders. I hated it at the time, but if she had not done so, I would be worse at the piano than I am now and would not be able to enjoy the music I play, nor aim for perfection at all times. Thank you, Ma Ma. And thank you Lord, for giving me my wonderful mother.
(Yes - I know, Mother's Day is past and Father's day is coming up. I'm working on his, now. ;) ).
~Victoria~
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