Jason and Praise

On Wednesday, Jose and I went to the Lee's (Jason and Praise) house! They kindly opened their home to us! Jose and I did not know them both very well but we knew this was our opportunity to do just that. Praise had cooked a three course meal that was so scrumptious! I killed it! haha. During the meal, they were both very intentional with us- asking us how we met, our relationship issues/temptations, setting realistic timelines and specific boundaries, pouring advice into us. It was challenging to be transparent with our weaknesses, but it is great way to better honor and glorify Jesus in the future. They suggested to meet up once a quarter as well as texting often! They also asked what are we thinking we could get of our relationship with them. We mentioned accountability, prayer, and wisdom- in which they joyfully committed to. We also wanted to see how to be in a relationship that guarded one another's hearts yet showed that we cared deeply for one another. It is a difficult balance for us, particularly myself. How do we step into being biblical man and woman roles without acting like husband and wife? What does that look like? They recently were married in February but had dated before for 6 or 7 years. I could see a lot of Jose in Jason and Jason made the same comment about Praise and myself. When I saw how intentional they were, especially Praise, I knew they were my type of people! The only bummer was, they got to know solely us and we did not learn too much about them- but that can be done the next time!

The best advice we took from the table was something called a forgiveness matrix. The first step is to apologize for what you did. The second step is to explain how you offended or hurt the other. The third step is to realize how you are going to change for the next time. The fourth step is to actually forgive. Men tend to jump from the first to the fourth step while women want to understand feelings and emotions. This will definitely help Jose and me during our next disagreement I am sure!

We then went to play two games: pandemic and scattergories. Now both hurt my brain but pandemic more so, and we also had to strategize as a team constantly. I would love to play it again!

I was really blessed, and am thankful God is providing us Jason and Praise. I strongly recommend strong accountability partners, continual wisdom seeking for other couples as well!

Transferring Churches

As of late I am the middle of going through a membership process to make Crossview Church my new home. Danny has been kind to take the time and go over the covenant, statement of faith, identities and rhythms with me. We went through all of it in a day, but I am going to try and take time to pray and meditate on if this shall be my home church! I will share all of these new bits of teachings as I continue to joyfully go through this process. I will share first of all the reasons for my transferring.

Aside from the bible, my alone time in prayer, and being able to talk to other people about this new faith of mine, I did not feel I needed anything else besides going to a bible reading church. I went church hunting and the one church that I felt a strong connection to was Calvary Chapel Chino Hills because we would go through one book of the bible at a time, verse by verse, challenging yet encouraging, passionate on the Word and for the pursuit of faith in our lives. God, I believe, has molded me tremendously since I had joined that church. My hunger for the bible never ceased and I was thankful for the Zeeman family who allowed me to tag along with them for a couple years, eat lunch after, and have an amazing teacher/paster. Since late last 2012, a few brothers and sisters, particularly Danny, Jose, and Pamela were able to share with me why church membership is important. 1. Church discipline. 2. Submission to pastors and elders, for they are accountable for my soul. 3 Accountability. After reading a bit from 1 Corinthians, Hebrews 13, and Matthew 18, I could see clearly why it was difficult to do those three works mentioned above at Calvary Chapel.

With church discipline, if I were to be in unrepentant sin, Calvary Chapel could not have disciplined me. We all do not know each other. In fact, we barely know the people who sit around us. No one knows what type of sin I am in, or did many of us make the effort to know. It is such a big church it is very difficult to be each others keeper. Calvary Chapel does not have a system ready to carry out any type of church discipline with the thousands who attend.

With submission to pastors and elders my pastor and elders do not know me. I really do believe I respected them, however, they wouldn't be accountable for my soul. They couldn't, seeing as I only introduced myself to one pastor, and not the one I usually heard preaching. They would stand before God, and God would ask them- how did you feel about Alyssa Young's faith- and they would have no idea how my faith was. That's nuts.

With accountability, I did share life with Sammie, but it has been difficult lately with busy schedules. All of my sisters go to different churches and it is difficult when we all hear different messages, are not reading one on one, and there are not people who will intentionally look out for your needs within the church. I felt often I had to be accountable alone to the Word because no one would ask me tough sin issue questions or challenge me to pursue Jesus better within my own church. Again with a big church, it is difficult, but definitely possible.

Now, see here that I am not criticizing my old church. I love it and often want to visit on Wednesdays. It was also my fault in not making more of an effort to be involved, known and share my life with. I realize more clearly my need to be with fellow Christians who will love on me and carry my burdens in Jesus, but I believe this can happen in a smaller setting with intentional people. This is what Crossview Church offers for me, as well as preaching the gospel in the forefront and center of every sermon. It is small church were I will be able to be intentional and accountable for all of them and vice versa. I am more than willing to serve at the gatherings and see how I can often meet others' needs. I am looking forward to being able to encourage and rebuke others who will live life with me and pursue me in the faith. I am obviously scared as well because I have no idea how to be a finger or an ear of the body of God's family cause I am just plain awkward haha. But Lord willing, God will clearly demonstrate what it is like to break bread with others. I get to see a Christ exalted and his church thrive! There is a sweetness about belonging to one people in good times and bad, to display costly, Christlike love. It is truly beautiful to me! I am excited!!!!!!

Surviving a Cultural Crisis

I read on the gospel coalition blog some good remarks by Mark Dever that encouraged me when I struggle with the temptation of a Utopian world and the deceiving thought that Satan triumphs God.

1. Remember that churches exist to bring a supernatural change. God takes people who are spiritually dead and gives them new life. There's never been a time or a culture when it was natural to repent of your sins.

2. Understand that persecution is normal. Some belief or practice we maintain as Christians contradicts what people want or threatens their way of seeing the world. Persecution is what Christians face in this fallen world. It's what Jesus promised us.

3. Eschew Utopianism As we work for the sake of love and justice, we must remember we're not going to transform this world into the kingdom of our Christ. God hasn't commissioned us to make this world perfect; he's commissioned us chiefly to point to the One who will one day make it perfect.

4.Make use of our democratic stewardship Submitting to the state in our democratic setting means to share in its authority. Let us be good stewards of what we have, otherwise we cannot use the democratic processes to bless others for the sake of love and justice.

5.Trust the Lord, not Human circumstances Nothing you and I will face will amount to what our King had to suffer. We can trust him. He will prove trustworthy through everything we might have to endure. And as we trust him, we will bear a beautiful testimony of God's goodness and power, and we will bring him glory.

6. Remember everything we have is God's grace We need to keep that perspective so that we aren't tempted to become too sour at people in our lives who oppose us.

7.Rest in the certainty of God's victory The gates of hell will not prevail against the church of Jesus Christ. We need not fear and tremble as if Satan gained the upper hand in his opposition to God. Christ's kingdom is in no danger of falling. We can love others with the supernatural love God has shown to us in Christ. And we can make his Word known today—with humility, with confidence, and with joy.

A New Place

A new writing place for me! This is officially my third place of blogging. I came from xanga (amy914.xanga.com) to tumblr (alyssayoung.tumblr.com) to this blogspot. The reason for the move was because tumblr was more for re-posting pictures and posting of my own pictures. I believe blogspot will give me a better vehicle to share my finite thoughts on various topics. Most topics will likely include my own bible application, books and blogs I am reading, God's sovereign work in my life, and the wonderful people He has blessed me with. I believe blogging can be used to for good for many reasons. I would like to share life and build up others, meditate on God's teachings, recommend and offer encouragement in the gospel, to think more often and hold fast to what is my treasure, be an example as a servant, child, and light of Christ, but as you'll surely see, I am a sinner more so.

I hold this as true: I am not perfect by all means. I am unworthy of God, but by His grace and love, God the Father sent down His Son Jesus while being innocent and knew no sin, took God's wrath by dying on the cross and paid the penalty for mine and the world's rebellion. He was raised to life and now death and sin have no victory over me. I now am able to enjoy a loving and holy relationship to God. I am often overwhelmed with how this truth has changed my life since 2010 and continues to sanctify me to be more like Christ Himself! He does good works in my life and I can do nothing but exalt Him high. I now have faith, though I did nothing to deserve it. My desire is for others to taste and see that the Lord is good and blessed are those who take refuge in Him.

May my actions and words be a reflection of God's wonderful grace. Hopefully I am able to be transparent during all bits of sharing and all glory and praise to Jesus Christ.