A Weekend of Rides, Games, Food, and People

It is embarrassing to see the kind of food my family devoured on Saturday at the OC Fair.... fried chips, fried cookie dough, fried reece pieces, fried pbj, 2 chile cheese fries, a hot dog, corn on the cob, a big plate of a fajita, hawaiian chicken bowl, orange cream float, mango orange smoothie, and 5 refills of drinks. can you say THROW UP. haha jk. we rode a couple of rides and walked around the shopping areas. It was a good time!

Later Jose and I gave Tony and Kat their wedding gifts :) We bought them two board games and a target giftcard. We proceeded to PLAY those games- Hedbanz and Would you rather. We also played truth be told earlier!

Sunday was filled with playing with the kiddies and listening to my brother Jason preach for the first time. He was great and I was encouraged on how to better be a a part of the body, the unity in that, and the Head that holds us all together because of the grace He has given to EACH and every one of us.

Fourth Week of July!

Giving Thanks:

-I was able to see a friend from college- Jessica :) We mad stunk at bowling but we were able to catch up :) haha -Zumba-ing with my gals Marika & Sammie. A total gab-fest afterwards was a must!

-Jose and I had the most pleasure of hanging out with the Lees (Jason & Praise). Again, they were able to give us insight, helpful tips, and accountability in our relationship. It is SO GOOD having support, prayer, and loving church family. We ate a delicious dinner provided b y the hands of Praise. We then proceeded to play three games of Smart A**!!! Can you believe I won twice?! This never happens. :p

- Always thankful for rest days were I can exercise at home, watch tv, eat dinner and mochi gelato, and go to the park with my dearest! We sat an enjoyed talking, laughing, and loving!
-Tonight the fam watched Red 2 (great movie btw!!)together and I went to bible study with my Crossview family and we studied Hosea and shared life!
-God has been pressing 2 Corinthians 5 and Psalm 63 in my heart this week.

Prayer Requests:
-That truly, I am a light to my family. That they see the gospel as truth, good and saving news for their souls. That my heart be preparing for a continual division in my fam but more so that I will trust in the compassion and sovereignty of Jesus in ALL of this.
-That I see God as HOLY, and do all things this next week for the sake of His name and His glory!
-Continual prayer for the healing of my grandpa and sister. Both still sick.
-That my friend Jessca is healed quickly from her car accident, that she is thankful for Gods mercy and kindness towards her and submits to treasure Jesus above all!
-That Crossview will be protected and exalt Jesus this Sunday!
-YWAM Las Vegas is in less than 2 weeks!!!! Please pray my heart is compassionate for the lost, that I am humble and intentional on studying the Word to share Christ's death and resurrection, giving and serving to those who need mental, spiritual and physical needs, that softening hearts are already happening and we are able to seek the elect, that my team (they are younger than me) are preparing to share the gospel in a way that honors God and is biblical, that Las Vegas (this city of sin) is ready to put their hope and identity in Jesus.

I am a Crossview Church Member!

Friday night I headed down to LA to meet with the mission team over there! We usually study the word in Diamond Bar, but because of the latest festivities it was cancelled. It was good to be with the other half of our church whom we hardly get to see because of the distance. We were prayerful and shared burdens and joys. Brandon taught me how to play chess and it was tough but i love it. I need to challenge my pops now.

Saturday was great for resting! My family FINALLY saw Man of Steel which I guess they thought was just OK. But I enjoyed many parts of it! You can see my post directly below. We grubbed at Wang Chos and enjoyed one another's company being dorks and all. We ended the night with a game of SmartA**. I always tell my parents, its the dumb people (kelli and myself) who want to play. haha That was really funny. My sister got a question based on a fact I told her earlier that very day! The story goes: Kelli was singing RESPECT. She commented, "Who sings that song....Diana Ross?" I responded with enthusiasm.."NOOO, Aretha Franklin, THE QUEEN OF SOUL!!!" (I remember this fact because I remember her being in a hulabaloo about someone else being called that nickname besides herself.) Fastforward to the game... The clue for the card was "known as the queen of soul" and kel shouts out "ARETHA FRANKLIN!" and my mouth dropped and I shouted "NOOOOOOOO she didn't even know that! I literally told her that a few hours ago!!" The whole shinanigans was hilarious. Could have won the game, I did not! Well, you know how that goes.

Sunday I am filled with glee to announce that I am a member of Crossview Church LA. We are in a covenant with one another. You can see it here This is what I signed and believe in wholeheartedly. I have been most welcomed since I have started coming here a few months ago. Stay tuned for future posts in how this church is shaping my life and my worship of God. I read books at Koffea (cute place with free refills on some drinks) with Praise and Sally. Later we joined the men and we ate at Chiles for Justin's birthday!

Thanks to God for a good weekend.

Let the Nations Be Glad! (Chapters 4-8)

Yesterday I finished reading this book and am most excited to share the details that sparked by noggin!

-What I think I lacked most knowledge about what to WHOM missions was supposed to be serving. I had a general knowledge of evangelizing to those who hadn't been converted or heard the gospel message, but not much else into that. Piper talked about PEOPLE GROUPS and un-reached places being those who have no indigenous communities of believing Christians able to evangelize to them. This is where it is important to go to. These are the people who are in need of hearing Christ proclaimed.

-I also was struck by the different type of biblical missions. There is that of the sort which calls us to make disciples of all nations - to stay and walk with those to grow in the faith. There is also the call to go and preach. We may not see growth or converts, but we are to speak truth into these peoples.

-I absolutely loved the points Piper makes here. "There is a beauty and power that comes from unity in diversity that which comes from unity alone. The fame and greatness and worth of an object of beauty increases in proportion to the diversity on those who recognize its beauty. The strength and wisdom and love of a leader is magnified in proportion to the diversity of people he can inspire to follow him with joy. God undercuts ethnocentric pride and throws people back on his free grace rather than any distinctive on their own. He is preparing for himself a people from all the people's who will be able to worship him freely and with white hot admiration."

This takes us back to the intro where Piper says that missions is necessary because worship of Jesus doesn't. He also concludes his book with how and why to worship. Worship is an inner stirring of the heart to treasure God above all treasures of the world. Valuing, loving, savoring, admiring, fearing respecting, and prizing above all.

Missions exist to plant Christ purchased, God exalting worshiping communities of the redeemed in all the world.

Seeing Jesus in Man of Steel

Watched this movie with the family yesterday! I enjoyed the special effects and the take they took on this superman. There were so many moments where I was like WOW,I see Jesus Christ in this. Thanks Danny for your help with some scripture findings :) I will let the gospel speak for itself!

Jor-El: Born on Krypton and raised on Earth, you had the best of both and were meant to be the bridge between two worlds.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:1-13)
Jonathan Kent: People are afraid of what they don't understand.
"Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6
Superman: Your scared of me because you can't control me. You don't, and you never will. But that doesn't mean I'm your enemy.
“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: They hated me without a cause." John 15:18-25
Lara Lor-Van: He will be an outcast. They'll kill him.
"As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.” And they were greatly distressed." Matthew 17:22
Jor-El: You can save them... You can save all of them.
"For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation." Romans 5:6-11
Colonel Nathan Hardy: [to Faora-Ul] You're right: a good death is its own reward.
"Now I would remind you, brothers,of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures...“Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:1-4,55-56
Jor-El: You will give the people an ideal to strive towards. They will race behind you, they will stumble, they will fall. But in time, they will join you in the sun. In time, you will help them accomplish wonders.
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2

I implore you to realize what Colonel Nathan Hardy did about Superman, "This man is not our enemy. We yearn for someone to admire, trust, to put hope in, and rejoice in. He has come. Jesus, the Son of God, came into the world and lived in perfect and joyful obedience to God the Father. He died and took the penalty for our sin on himself. He rose from the dead on the third day defeating sin, Satan, and death and calls all to turn away from their sin but to trust in the Lord's death on the cross alone for their salvation.

Third Week of July

This week was so so splendid!

Giving Thanks -Catching up time with my two bffs after a Zumba workout. We are all in different seasons of our lives and its beautiful the support and excitement we continue to share for one another!

A boba session with my gf Chrishy. We shared laughs, our admiration for the Lord, our church, the people in our hearts, and caught up over the many months we haven't met up!
- I got a mini lesson about Spurgeon too from Danny and Jose! I love learning about OG Christians :) I ought to read more about folks of the faith!

- I was filled with excitement hanging with one of my older friends Aarika. We ate mexican food and just YAPPED about what God's doing in our lives- church wise, mission wise to the un-reached and the spiritually needy, our own worship time, and our small worlds. She was telling me a bit of the transformation she has been able to see in me which just made me smile and see God's grace in my life even more. She wrote "But God knew how to reach you and the best way to ensure that the two of you would meet. He gave you hints and light pushes through people and friends which brought you to where you are today. And He gave you the means to have a strong and solid foundation that would rely on His strength and not anyone else's because that's what you struggled with in the past. Now He's allowing you to see the importance of fellowship and community, when it won't hinder you from Him and where you won't put that fellowship and community as an idol in place of him. Which is, I think, so you can continue to grow, but even more so help others too.Seeing your transformation brings joy to my heart and I praise God for all that He's done in your life. I can't wait to see what He does with it."
- I went to a DRIVE IN and night with Jose! IT WAS SO FUN. we layed on yoga mats and snacked on homemade dinner. We watched 2 movies for $14. Our kinda night. We laughed constantly at the genius-ness of Despicable Me 2 and the stupidity of Grown Ups 2!
-Thurs was HUGE blessing. I had my final part of my meeting with PJ- in which I was able to share my life story. I am glad he had guiding questions so I was not babbling on! I shared on how I was raised, what the gospel is, how i can be involved, my relationship with mainly my daddy, my struggles with past boyfriends, and moments that led God to open my heart and ears to receive the gospel. He gave such helpful tips on how to better be a witness to my family. He made me feel comfortable that he will be accountable for my soul, that he is willing to know me, keep me accountable, and befriend me as my pastor and brother. I am just thankful to God for all of this.
- Friday was chillin!!!! Jose and I hung out a bit today and yesterday. He and my mother bonded over that overhyped cookie butter. hahah my mom now has 24!! She is giving away to those who desire it tho! haha.

Prayer Requests:
-For my merciful God to let my fam hear, believe, and confess with their mouths that Jesus is their Savior soon or to have clear opportunities to evangelize.
-For the members meeting on Sunday! I will Lord willing be a part of Crossview Church!
-For me to delight, enjoy, be thirsty and desperate for Jesus
-For my purity with Jose

Enjoy your weekend yalls.

The Right Stuff

I drove down to my high school dance teachers house where there was going to be a big ol dance reunion :) I could only go in the very beginning but it was worth talking to the couple of girls that were there! I only get to see them about twice a year, and they make me laugh so much! I love my teacher and the support we have for one another! :) We helped prepare some things here and there and some delish appetizers!

Can I take you back to the era of BOY BANDS!!!!! Boyz II Men & 98 degrees opened for New Kids on the Block! It was a big party and so much fun singing and dancing with all the girls in Honda Center. Kelli was sick so I had to sing extra loud on her behalf. Their voices are great, girls are still crazy over all the guys, and they can still put on a show!

I got to eat sushi with Jonathan, SAmmie and Jose :) It was yummy, fun, spontaneous, and great! Love em!

I went to Crossview on Sunday and we read and listened PJ preach on Genesis 9-11. It was difficult because I was stirring over how I do desire often to make a name for myself and how I do not scatter enough to share Jesus to every one. It was enlightening and I hope to carry this throughout my week to ultimately put my hope in Jesus and God's promises.

Second Week of July!

Howdy howdy howdy! Another week gone by! I was typing in the word "week" at my job hundreds of times, and after a while, it started to look like it was spelled wrong!! This happens to me all the time. When I look at a word too much, I question its spelling! I worked a bit overtime these past couple of days and we had a power outage in our center so I was put to manual labor! I am thoroughly pooped! Not a lot of pictures this week either!

Giving Thanks:
-It is always a good time for me to hang out with Danny and Jose. 2 DAYS IN A ROW! We learned, read a chapter aloud from The Holiness of God, shared thoughts and laughs. I am thankful for brothers in both of them! There were a couple of things that caught us in awe from the chapter. What I had a difficult time doing was answering the question "When have you been comforted by God's holiness?" What?!!! I feel I have always been convicted or fearful.. but comforted? I am looking out for that more now. The book is crazy and I need to read it fully to share with yall!

-We celebrated Grace's 23rd birthday at Niko Niko. I treasure our friendship and knowing she is one of Jose's best friends! She encourages me in my faith, pouring wisdom into me, and when we get together, it is never enough time! Happy to see the whole cicc gang together!
-I am most honored to be able to help out with Kat's wedding preparation. She is Jose's longest and greatest friends and he is in Tony's wedding party!! I am giddy that he is giddy! We ate at Young Dongs and enjoyed the yummy food and company!
-Yesterday I was able to get back at my pilates! Oh how I've missed the ab hurtin-booty pinchin-arm achin workout! It is great to be back at it trying to remain healthy and in shape!

Prayer Requests:
-My dear sister is sick! All of a sudden too! We planned to see a concert this Saturday and hopefully she is better by then! Otherwise the mother swoops in singing songs she has never listened to before -_- Please pray for healing and energy ASAP and pray she sees her need for Jesus Christ! On that note, my entire family's need!
-My friend Tori is in Malawi! She is serving others, being bold for the sake of the gospel, singing her soul with everyone and being able to worship God:) Please pray God sustains her, Holy Spirit moves and uses her, and Jesus is her hope and is worthy of all the glory. Rebuke the enemy so that he is left out completely!
-My friends Tony and Kat glorifying Christ at their ceremony and in their marriage. That Tony is a great leading man, submissive to Jesus, gentle and kind towards Kat. That Kat is submissive to Tony and has self control and faithfulness!
-Pray that I am able to meditate more often and intentionally on scripture. May it be ingrained into my heart so that fruits of gentleness, faithfulness, and self control will be overflowing! This week Jude was great for me. v 20-23 "But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh"

Let the Nations Be Glad! (Chapter 3)

I just finished this chapter yesterday and throughout it all I was struck by how little suffering I endure and wonder if God is as magnified in my life as He deserves to be!

Piper covers six reasons on why God APPOINTS suffering for us.

1. deepen faith and holiness - this weans us from the world and sets our hope fully on God alone. Jesus grew in more and more obedience to God. We have no choice but to fall on Him and receive hope from the promise of his Resurrection. Hos sad it is that i daily need this weaning!
2. make my cup increase - the reward of God's glory in Heaven is MORE. the eternal weight of glory is worthy. know this. remember this. treasure this!
3. price of making others bold - this helps us to awaken others out of their slumbers of indifference! how much more do I need to be a sharpening iron to get others and myself included out of idleness to worship the Lord?!
4. fills up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions - this is the means that God uses to bring salvation to the church. Our suffering is a visible reenactment of Christ so others will see Christ's love for them
5. enforces the missionary command to go - i do not want to let comfort, ease, affluence, prosperity, safety, freedom produce weakness, apathy, lethargy, self centeredness and preoccupation with security in me!
6. the supremacy of Christ is manifested - his power is the ONLY power when sufferings brings us to the end of our resources. this trust shows his power when his love sustains us when we cannot do anything ourselves. mhm YEAH!!

We rejoice because the reward in heaven is so much greater than the worth of all that we lose through suffering on earth. God's worth shines through the pain that His people will gladly bear it for His name.

I believe all of the above to be true. Since God has saved me, I believe I have witnessed God doing points 1, 2, 3, and 6 through suffering. That is why it is all the more convicting when I am not necessarily going through difficult times as much to see that my holiness and supremacy of God is decreased in my soul. I forget easily that apart from God there is no good and at his right hand there are pleasures forevermore. I want even if it takes trials and hardships for my cup to increase for the eternal weight of glory in Christ. Challenge and humble me Jesus with difficulties, to not be self righteous and self reliant in order for me to bring more glory to You.

Its a Jolly Holiday at Disneyland!

My parents passes were about to expire! soooooo we spent the weekend at a hotel near Disneyland! We enjoyed both parks very much! Here are pictures! Enjoy!

First Week of July!

This week has been AMAZING! Filled with good people, memories, conversations, teachings, and hopefully real GROWTH!

Giving thanks:

-Monday I went to Disneyland with Sammie :) We havent been in forever and we literally talked the entire time!!! We had so much to catch up on. I always tell people I love happy people or when workers are glad to serve at their job. We definitely had one of the best actresses I have ever had on Tower of Terror. She got an applaud from all of us as she seated us! haha. I keep a list of people at Dland that serve me or my sister well so we can go and compliment them in the guestbook one day!

-I am thankful for my Crossview sister Ruby! We ate at Young Dongs and we talked for hours as well! :) We were giving life stories, sharing our faiths, and she was definitely giving me wisdom on questions I had! It was so fun and helpful. Hoping we get to do this much more in the future (with her family too)- Lord willing!

-4th of july was crazy! I was able to spend more time with Jose's family in a beach house on laguna beach :) There was a hike that I could not finish :( It was too hot BUT i did get to talk with kat in her lovely new air conditioned apt! hehe. My pops had bbqed for us and that was YUM. Then I ended the night with a bang at jesscas to shoot off fireworks and play games!
-I went to the doctors and have a HEALTHY body. Thank the Lord for continuing to sustain me!

-I am so glad for podcasts and books! This week I listened to Ask John on prayer, Matt Chandler on elders, Mark Driscoll on the Holy Spirit and the church. I was able to read from Let the Nations be Glad and The Pleasures of God- both by John Piper! Had great quiet time while waiting for my doctors appointment and 4th of july at Panera!

Prayer Requests
-That God gives me more wisdom and grace in my words- being quicker to hear and slower to speak. And that when I do act- it is with humility
-That God saves my family from rebellion and sin ASAP
-That God creates opportunities (who, what, where, when) for me to GIVE AND SERVE others and non-Christians gladly
-prayer life! need discipline to pray more!!!

Have a nice weekend!

The Sinner and the Conquerer

I was really encouraged as I readthis article by John Piper. I love being convicted and encouraged by my Savior all at once. It is my guilt covered by a heaping amount of grace. Too often, I get stuck in a pity party of am I good enough (good works) to be on the straight and narrow to see Jesus face to face. I think I am too sinful- selfish, prideful, sexual, people pleaser, argumentative!! I realize lately how much these are powerfully in my nature and can cause me to forget to worship Jesus. Thanks to be to God that I am able to be obedient from the heart and I am no longer slaves of it! It is dead when I died to Christ and when he conquered this great feat. By Jesus's grace's- that reign is stronger than sin's reign. Now I may joyfully worship Him.

I had a good busy weekend! Friday night Jose made dinner (Turkey burgers & fries with bacon ranch dip from Trader Joes) that was totally scrumptious! Excited that he can cook or can figure things out!! We went off to bible study were we ate Famous Amos cookie sandwiches and read through the book of Amos with our brothers and sisters! We saw Amos prophesy Jesus's death and Resurrection, and also how it related to the book of Revelation :) It is amazing and so cool to me to read the Old Testament in light of my Savior.
Saturday I watched monsters inc 2 again (hehe) with my mama and sister (she saw it for the 3rd time)!!! We later relaxed at home as I completed some chores and home errands that needed to be done. Then i conquered the game of Clue in a match with my family! Mwahah.

Sunday my friend Danny preached on 2 Corinthians 4. I love this chapter as it continues to get me through trials of every day life and tough times in the past couple of years. He noted that we should not give up because of the message of the gospel, the power of God, and the eternal weight of glory. I am thankful that because of the power of Jesus we are able to go through these tough times knowing the best is yet to come and that we are never truly stuck down in this light affliction. I cannot forget the power of Christ that spoke light into me like He did in creation and continues to do as He sustains my faith. I went home and ended up washing two cars and cleaning out mine! It feels so much better. O ya my dad took all my loose change as I found them in the nooks of the car seats and slots -_- Then there was a spontaneous game night with Crossview friends and we played Name 5, Smart*ss, and Scattergories. My goodness, are they competitive!! But it was filled with laughter :) Hope yall had a good weekend!!!