All Good Things...

"“When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you." (Luke 10: 5, 6)

Less than three weeks ago, I had some fruitful experiences in Columbia College, so this week, as I got back from Iowa, I was pretty excited about doing some follow-up!

"Can I Bring My Friends?"

My name is Charis and I want to give glory to God!

This morning, I woke up with a very clear sense of "you should spend some time in Columbia College today."

Wow...

Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago. (Isaiah 25:1)

Being Charis

I've been praying for patience and grace lately. I've been asking Jesus to show me what it is like for my  "attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5) I've been learning to be "quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry" (Jame 1:19b) and to love even more sincerely (Romans 12:9a).

Trials & Errors

I apparently should have practiced my casual signature!

The first batch of my announcement letter went out yesterday!

"Addiction"

Confession: I've picked up a new addiction recently.

Insomnia & Jurassic Park

This is totally not a very pleasant way to return to my blogging business, but here's a story worth recording.

Hairdo & Sisterhood

Rachael and April are amazing... along with all my ACFers who are so dear to my heart.

Catalyst. Risen Jesus. I Do.

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Colossians 3:1-4

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Colossians 3:12-14

How I Wish...

Pregnancy Category C: Animal reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use of the drug in pregnant women despite potential risks. -- Classification of fetal risks due to pharmaceuticals by FDA.

Prayer 8- Love Comes From God

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." 1 John 4:7-8

Forget About The Sleeping Pills... All You Need Is Mom!

I've been feeling really blah the past two days.

Not because I was "being a girl" or anything like that, simply because I had many things to get done but I couldn't sleep much at night!

Charis, A Bondservant of God...

"James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ..." James 1:1

What is a "servant"? a person who serves a person, who is paid to serve.
What is a "bond"? something that binds a covenant something used to tie together - rope or chains a uniting element or force glue.

CityLights: When, Not If.

As a CityLights tradition, on Sunday after Church service, everyone's distributed and assigned to different families to enjoy the hospitality of members from the Church.

CityLights: Lens-Cleaning, Whatever...

As usual, CityLights brought all kinds of stretching and wresting of the heart.
Last year, I tried to blog by dates but it just got so long that I don't think I even finished it... so this year, I will just blog the different story that happened to me and the different ways the Lord stretched my heart and opened my eyes... and more.

Thank you, Mrs. Chiu

Dear Mom, thank you for my physical life and leading and guiding me unto the path that lead to the One True God.

I entered the (very glorious!) 26th year of my life today!

Prayer 7- The Grace To Please Others Rightly

"But a married man has to think about his earthly responsibilities and how to please his wife." -- 1 Corinthians 7:33 (NLT)

Prayer 6- Pleasing the Lord

"I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord." (1 Corinthians 7:32)

Prayer 5- Receiving & Living Salvation

"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)

"Practice Patience"

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." (Galatians 5:22, 23)

"Love is patient..." (1 Corinthians 13:4)

My Church has been on the sermon series of "Fruit of the Spirit" since the beginning of the year. Today, we arrived at the topic of "patience."

Prayer 4- Thornbush Fencing

"Therefore I will block her path with thornbushes; I will wall her in so that she cannot find her way. She will chase after her lovers but not catch them; she will look for them but not find them. Then she will say, ‘I will go back to my husband as at first, for then I was better off than now.’" (Hosea 2:6-7)

Prayer 3- Closing The Doorway To The Heart and Waiting For The Lord's Preparation

You are a garden locked up, my sister, my bride; you are a spring enclosed, a sealed fountain. (Song of Solomon 4:12)

Prayer 2- Surrendering Physical Desires

"Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame." (Song of Solomon 8:6)

Seasons & Cycles

This post is dedicated to Mr. & Mrs. C., dear friends and family to me. They've been such great blessings and I am very thankful for having them in my life.

A weekday afternoon, I was welcomed into the house of a couple from Church who have been dear to me and have been the people that I go to for seeking wisdom, prayers, guidance, and loving care.

No, I Have NOT Been Crying!

I've been feeling a little under the weather and I heard that there are "stuff going around making people sick." So I've trying my darnest to NOT let that whatever stuff catch me!

Prayer 1- Surrendering Love

"Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away. If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly scorned." (Song of Solomon 8:7)

The "PFYFH" Series

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:13)

I've been reading a series of prayer guide written by a Taiwanese pastor, Pastor Yeh, titled "Prayers For Seeking A Godly Marriage." It is a book similar to "Letters To Karen" (by Charlie W. Shedd, a collection of letters from a father to his daughter with straight talk about love in marriage, the things that build it up and the that tear it down, preparing his daughter for her future marriage. There's also "Letters to Philip" for guys.), a collection of prayer guides and words of encouragement and wisdom as they seek and pray for their future marriage. The one I am reading is specifically for sisters, there's also a "Prayers for Seeking A Godly Marriage" for brothers.

Mine, Yours, Ours.

My journey of learning Korean started when the ever so lovely Mrs. Lee wanted to learn Chinese, so we'd get together and "exchange" our languages.

Now, it has evolved into a way I bond with my Korean friends, a way that I hangout with them, a way of building friendship, a way to share the Jesus in me with them.

"This Is The Way...."

From "Streams In The Desert".


"Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”"(Isa. 30:21.)

I've Got Nothing

There's always a "giving glory to God" time in the weekly Leader's Meeting. During that time, people share about things that they would like to give glory to God by saying "I want to give glory to God" to begin their sharing, and others celebrate those events by saying"amen!"

I usually have something I could share to give glory to God, but today, I didn't, I couldn't, I've got nothing.

To Live Is Christ

It was then when I fully believe "life flashing back in front of my eyes" could actually happen.
I was traveling back from St. Louis to Columbia, it was during rush hour, the traffic was backed up and I came to stop.
I saw a bright light from my rearview mirror, and the next thing I knew, I was flying toward the opposite bound.

"For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." Philippians 1:21