Jinha Kim

God is Big Enough

in Thoughts  by Jinha Kim 2 comments

Today was my last day of (paid) full-time work; tomorrow I go on maternity leave for the remainder of the year.

I have mixed feelings: on the one hand, I am looking forward to concentrating on being a full-time mum to two boys; on the other hand, I am nervous.  Having one active toddler to care for is tiring enough, how can I care for Micah and a newborn?  I know millions of women have done it before, but it all seems so daunting.

I am comforted, however, by the thought that God cares about our personal fears and challenges. He empowers us with strength and wisdom to make it through each day, whether it is with young children or with an unreasonable boss or with angry commuters.

God can downsize from the Universal to the human; from the Creator to the created in a cradle, from the Saviour to the friend.  And having heard our troubles, He then is big enough to change hearts and history.

Micah loves singing the song, “My God is so big, so strong and so mighty, there’s nothing my God cannot do (clap, clap! repeat) The mountains are His, the valleys are His, the stars are His handiwork, too (clap, clap!) My God is so big, so strong and so mighty, there’s nothing my God cannot do – for you!”

I am internalising this song as I face a new bend in the road.  My God is big enough for the sleepless nights and endless days, big enough for the unknown future and the regrettable past, big enough for the highs and lows of life’s journey.

With such a guide, we can echo the psalmist:

The Lord is my Shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside quiet waters,
He refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths for His name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Psalm 23, NIV

May you turn to God today with the smallest of cares to share, believing that He is big enough to move heaven and earth – for you!

by: Jinha Kim

"But those who drink the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:14

Joy is a state of mind

in Thoughts  by Jinha Kim 0 comments

IMG_0054A friend recently asked me while enjoying the charms of my toddler, “Does he bring you endless joy?”  I immediately answered, “No.  He brings me endless exhaustion.”

I was half-heartedly joking, but my comment replayed in my mind a few days later as Micah hugged me from behind and said, “I cuddle Mommy.  I love you.”  In that moment while my heart melted, I reflected on the fact that I am not grateful enough for this little life that has been entrusted in my care.

Sure, his energy level needs no Red Bull.  Yes, he is cheeky to the bone.  The white hairs on my head definitely appeared as his terrible twos began.

But he also has the cheesiest smile.  And a great sense of humour.  When he cries, he covers his face with his hands and weeps in a way that breaks your heart.

He makes up his own songs: “More cars, five cars, all gone, no cars.”   He dances jigs.  He tells Roy, “Good job, daddy, driving” and asks me, “Mommy sleep well?” with a sweetness that melts ice cream.

I asked God to help me be more grateful – and thus more joyful –  for my children this year.

Joy is a state of mind.

We all can count our woes and complaints.  But really, when we pause to remember, we have much to be thankful for – and to rejoice in!

When the Bible writer Paul said to “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, rejoice” (Philippians 4:4), he was in prison.  He was not looking at his loss of liberty or potential death.  He chose to focus on the “peace of God, which passes all understanding” (Phil 4:7) and the gift of love and community that his fellow Christians provided  through their letters and visits (Phil 4:10).  His joy was a choice that renewed and multiplied, resulting in a contagious Christianity that changed the world.

How different my days and relationships would be if I embraced such joy!

by: Jinha Kim

"But those who drink the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:14

Leaving on a Jet Plane

in Thoughts  by Jinha Kim 1 comments

bumblebeeTraveling used to be fun.  The first few times I flew, I felt so grown-up (I was 16-years-old) and privileged.  Now, as a pregnant mother of a toddler, traveling is a necessary evil to reunite with my family in the USA.

I thought I was prepared.  I had researched on Pinterest and made “toddler traveling packs” that included little games, new toys, and activities I thought would occupy my active 2.5-year-old for at least 5 hours out of the 44 hours in the air in the next 3 weeks.

I either underestimated how active my son truly is or overestimated how engaging my packs were.  After a few hours, I was completely out of options and desperate to keep Micah in his seat.  Fortunately, it was Roy’s turn to watch Micah and he pulled down a suitcase full of toys that I did not know Roy had packed after he had peeked at my packs.  Unfortunately, he was not able to keep Micah entertained for more than a few hours, either.

By the sixth hour, I was praying for divine intervention.  Despite having skipped his nap, Micah did not fall asleep until the 14th hour (about 1 am Melbourne time).  Of course, we had to wake him up a few hours later to land in LA and transfer to our Seattle flight.  I honestly wondered if I would survive the trip.

Sometimes, life can feel like one long exhausting plane ride.  Your assigned seat is uncomfortable, you may not have likeable seat mates, and yes, there are turbulences along the way.  There’s only so much entertainment can do to make the journey pleasant.  Sometimes, life is just not what we thought it would be. 

But what makes it worth it is the destination.  Where are we headed?  Why are we on the journey in the first place? Who’s waiting on the other side? 

When we finally reached the baggage claim at the Seattle airport, Roy’s dad was waiting for us.  Micah pointed and said, “Seattle grandpa!”  Grandpa’s face was all smiles as he embraced Micah, Roy, then me.  Seeing his elation is what will probably make me do this trip again, against my better judgment, in the future.

It’s been a pleasure spending time with my brother-in-law, his wife, and my nephews, one of whom is only two-weeks-old.  I am not so fond of the two dogs that keep barking at us, but that’s a story for another time.

I can’t wait to see my parents and sister again in just 4 more days, after another plane ride.  And in a few weeks I will be eager to return to Melbourne, to our home, friends, and church family.

So I will get on the next flight.  I will book another itinerary.  I will keep traveling, as long as I know that love is waiting for me at the end of the journey.

I hope that no matter how difficult life may get, that we will always remember that Love is waiting for us at the end of our journeys – He will be thrilled to see us, His wounded arms will be open wide for an embrace, and His words will be, “Welcome home.”

by: Jinha Kim

"But those who drink the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:14

Cleaning House

in Thoughts  by Jinha Kim 0 comments

We have been cleaning the house.

The pantry has finally been organised; we discovered 8 different packets of rice paper stashed in various shelves.  Our two office areas are now clutter-free.  Even Micah’s toys are tucked out of sight in boxes and bags.

We felt it was about time – not only because it is the end of the year, but because we are anticipating guests next year.

The New Year is also a great time to do some soul-cleansing.  What habits need to be thrown out?  What thoughts recycled?  What memories need to be stored away?  Which priorities need to be assessed?  Are there any relationships that need to be restored or renewed?

Remember that every day we have a reason for our transformation:

“This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope.  Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great if Your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, says my soul, therefore I hope in Him!” Lamentations 3:21-24

May God’s compassion and faithfulness inspire us to trust in Him daily in 2016.

by: Jinha Kim

"But those who drink the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:14

In Remembrance

in Thoughts  by Jinha Kim 0 comments
A wooden cross marks a veteran's grave marker in an Ohio cemetery.

A soldier’s grave

Today, the 11th of November, we remember those who gave their lives during the First World War that ended after four long years on 11 am on 11 November 1918.  A minute of silence was dedicated at 11 am today to honour the memory of those who have suffered or died in wars and armed conflicts around the world.

Remembrance Day, as well as other Memorial days throughout the year and in different countries, give us the opportunity to reflect on the sacrifices of others that enable us to live in peace and safety today.  It helps us appreciate the legacy they have left us and pledge to leave a better world for the generations to come.

God also wants us to remember.  He has asked us to “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8) as a memorial of creation and salvation (Deuteronomy 5:15).  He asked us to remember our spiritual heritage and the way He has led us in the past (Isaiah 46:9).

In addition, He has asked us to remember His sacrifice: “And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19).

When we have communion together, breaking bread that symbolises the body of Jesus that was broken for us, drinking the wine that represents the blood of Jesus spilt for us, we partake in remembering the cross.  We spend a thoughtful moment of prayer thinking of the sufferings of Jesus and why He endured such shame and agony.  We appreciate His exchange of life for ours and renew our commitment to Him.

Communion not only remembers the past but anticipates the future.  “For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes” (1 Corinthians 10:26).

In remembering His death, we also look forward to the day when Jesus will come again to end sin, resurrect the dead, and wipe away our tears.

by: Jinha Kim

"But those who drink the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:14

Receiving by Giving

in Thoughts  by Jinha Kim 0 comments

From “Solid Ground” by Mark Finley:

“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35

When I was a boy we sometimes played a simple game with a ball.  One person stood on one side of the house, another person on the other.  The first person attempted to throw the ball over the house.  The second tried to catch it!  The ball would go up to the top of the roof and roll back.  It went up and back, up and back, up and back.

Some people’s Christian experience is like that – up and down, up and down.  They attempt to pray, they study the Bible regularly, but it seems there is no life to their Christian experience.

Is it possible to attend church consistently, feasting on a spiritual banquet each week, and still die of a spiritual heart attack?  Without a clear focus on service, our spiritual arteries become clogged.  For this reason Jesus said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’ Acts 20:35.

In giving we are blessed.  As we share with others what Jesus has done for us, our own spiritual experience is strengthened.  The more we give away our faith, the more our faith grows.  It grows when we share it…

If you want a growing Christian experience, share your faith.  Make a prayer list.  Begin praying for your family members, neighbours, or work associates who don’t know Christ.  Share truth-filled literature with people God leads into your life.  The Lord may lead you to open your home for a small group Bible study.  He may open the door for you to give Bible studies to a close friend.  The Lord may even lead you to conduct your own evangelistic series.

However God leads you, be sensitive to His leading.  You will be utterly amazed at how you grow spiritually by getting involved in sharing your faith.  When we witness to others, the soul we save may very well be our own, for it is always ‘more blessed to give than to receive.’

How can you share your faith with others today?  Is there a song that comforts you that you can link on Facebook?  A video that inspires you?  A testimony that you can blog? Is there someone in need that you can minister to, whether it is by being a good listener or helping out financially?  Is God asking you to give more in a certain area of your life?

by: Jinha Kim

"But those who drink the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:14

Christian Identity Theft

in Thoughts  by Jinha Kim 0 comments
Picture from Destiny Family Christian Centre

Picture from Destiny Family Christian Centre

Last week, someone hacked into my email account and sent out spam to all my contacts.  It was highly frustrating as I had to change all my passwords (a herculean task for me – read Forgotten Passwords for the reason why) and let as many people know as possible that I had not sent them a dropbox folder containing investment “opportunities.”

As I mused on making my new password “Ih8hacker$,” I felt violated and indignant that my trust and my contacts’ trust had been so disrespected.  I was also wary of potential identify theft and spent hours combing through online accounts for my credit cards, utility bills, and social media.

No one likes a poser.

Perhaps that’s why so many are reluctant to take on the name, “Christian.”  Are we afraid of committing identity theft or violating the commandment not “to take the name of the Lord your God in vain” (Exodus 20:7) by claiming to be a follower of Christ when we’re so messed up?   Is being branded a “Christian hypocrite” worse than the Scarlet Letter being pinned to our chest?

Christians first got their name, “Christians,” in Antioch, an ancient Greek city.  The early disciples of Jesus were being persecuted in Jerusalem, so they scattered throughout the Roman Empire.  When they reached Antioch, they shared the good news of Jesus with the Greek pagans – “for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch” (Acts 11:26, NIV).

What made them Christians?  It wasn’t about how “holy” they were or how Christ-like they might or might not have been.  It was simply about their focus on Christ – on His life, ministry, death, and resurrection.  They loved to share about Jesus.

And why not?  He mingles with sinners.  He calls the outcasts.  He touches the untouchables.

A hypocrite is not someone who fails to live up to the ideals of his or her principles.  (If that were the definition, then we are all hypocrites, for no one observes perfect congruity between belief and practice.  Who doesn’t eat junk food even though we know it’s unhealthy?  Who gets adequate hours of sleep?  Who does not procrastinate?)  A hypocrite is someone who pretends to have virtues that he or she dos not actually possess.

You are not a hypocrite if you claim to be a Christian but fail to live a sinless life.  A Christian is someone who recognises that we are all sinners and that we need Jesus Christ to forgive and represent us in our place.  A Christian is someone who is honest about his or her vulnerability to selfishness, someone who is not ashamed to claim Jesus’ righteousness as our own.

“And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12).

It is only when we pretend to be holy on our own, or when we mask how we’re really doing, that we become Christian hypocrites.  It’s time to stop that kind of Christian identity theft.  Let’s give the name of Christianity back its original dignity by taking our mind off of ourselves – the anxiety about what others think, the desire to please or be praised – and by returning homage to the matchless Person of Jesus Christ.

by: Jinha Kim

"But those who drink the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:14

Inside Out

in Thoughts  by Jinha Kim 2 comments
Calvin & Hobbes

Calvin & Hobbes

I don’t even like chocolate.  Yet as I wiped away the angry tears I gnawed down the Snickers bar viciously.

It was one of those days.  The parking ticket attendant had almost snickered as I ran to the car, saying as he walked away, “Too late.”  $150.  That’s 3 months of nappies, I thought.  I was already having a down day, having had some bad news earlier.  The ticket was just the last straw.

I had a long commute to Melton, and as the tears and rain refused to abate, I started my diatribe against God.  He didn’t deserve it.  I also called Roy and belted out my feelings.  He didn’t deserve it either.  Then I told God, “Ok, you know I don’t really mean it.  And I know it’s really not that bad.  But this is how I feel…”

Have you seen that trailer for the new Pixar movie, Inside Out?  It’s all about the emotions (joy, fear, anger, disgust, sadness) living in our minds and determining our choices.  I have no idea if it will be a good movie or not, but it poses interesting questions: Do our feelings dictate our decisions? Can we control them?  How do we balance all our conflicting emotions?

By the time I got to Melton, God had given me peace about the day’s events, but I remained contemplative about how easily our moods can change.  Our favourite sports team wins, and life is awesome.  The same team loses, and life stinks.  We find a free parking spot in the city, and it’s our lucky day.  We get a parking ticket, and the world is against us.

It’s normal to feel a variety of emotions based on the circumstances.  However, are our extreme reactions indicative of an imbalance of perspective?

For example, could our hopes be too set on earthly things, which can disappoint and fail us? [“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matt 6:19-21]

Have we forgotten that our first-world problems are just that – symptoms of lives that are focused on self and unthinking of the real needs and issues of others?

Because, at the end of the day, thank God I can afford the $150 parking ticket.  I don’t have to go without food and Micah doesn’t have to forego nappies in order for us to pay that ticket (again, thank God).  And, as a friend astutely observed, we pay a lot of money for courses and training.  I paid $150 for a lesson in parking laws that I will never forget.

After all, it’s just money.  What I lost in my reaction was peace, perspective, and almost people – I took out my grumpiness on God and Roy, who are very understanding and gracious.  Not everyone who are unfortunate enough to be in our space during our emotional outbursts are as forgiving.  What if the parking attendant saw my irate face and then walked into my church the next week?  After all, he didn’t deserve my rage either.  It was really my fault.

When there is real loss, it is appropriate to grieve.  When there is real injustice, we should feel indignant. When others hurt, no matter the cause, we should offer support and sympathy.  But we may also need to spend some quiet time with God and ask Him to re-anchor what we value, prioritise, and feel in Christ – and Christ alone.

 

by: Jinha Kim

"But those who drink the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:14

Learning that Transforms

in Thoughts  by Jinha Kim 0 comments

Excerpt from In Step with Jesus: The Journey Begins p 43:

Much of human learning is like addition.  We add to what we know about carpentry or cooking, about our careers or our hobbies, about being parents or grandparents.  But some learning is like an explosion. When the debris settles, we realise the landscape has changed.  This explosive kind of learning is called transformational learning.  And it is the kind of learning that the disciples experienced from the fallout of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus….

Transformational learning changes your most deeply held beliefs or assumptions – sometimes your worldview.  It changes the lens through which you see everything.  Because of the importance of transformational learning, many people have studied it, trying to figure out how it happens.  Here is the way one educator has described how we are changed by what we learn [James E. Loder, The Transforming Moment, 2nd e. (Colorado Springs, Colo.: Helmers and Howard, 1989), pp. 2-4]:

1. You experience a “crisis” or “disorienting dilemma,” for example, with a tragic of disappointing experience or with something you hear or read that your current persecutive cannot explain or help you endure.

2. During the search for an answer, you try to resolve the dilemma.  Your mind attempts to find an explanation.  This can last only minutes – or years.

3. The “aha moment” comes when you suddenly gain insight into the dilemma; you find a solution and experience a sense of relief or a sense that your world has been put back together again.  In spiritual matters, this is when the Holy Spirit gives new understanding.

4. The final step is interpretation and verification.  Now, with your new perspective, you interpret your life in a new way, looking differently at your experiences and beliefs, both current and past.  You also look to others to affirm the truthfulness of your new understanding.

Have you had transforming learning that have changed your worldview?  Did they follow this pattern?

by: Jinha Kim

"But those who drink the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:14

The Call of Baal

in Thoughts  by Jinha Kim 0 comments

It is loud; it is subtle.  It’s universal; it’s perpetual.

No matter where you are in the world, no matter your background, you would have heard the call of Baal – the god of rain.  That is, the god of wealth – for rain in the agricultural culture of Canaan represented the promise of good crops and abundance.

The Israelites had heard the call of Yahweh, too – the Creator God, who called His people into a relationship with Him that meant self-sacrifice, surrender, and even suffering.  He promised hope, eternal life, and meaning that would surpass the splendours of this world, but to many, the call of prosperity, peace, and popularity was far more appealing.  Never mind that the pursuit and worship of Baal did not actually fulfil their desires.  The illusion of it was enough.

So the nation, even the King, had succumbed to its allure.  King Ahab married Jezebel, a Canaanite princess and priestess whose name meant, “Where is the prince Baal?”  She sponsored 450 prophets of Baal to lead Israel to worship Baal and systematically executed the prophets of Yahweh.

But God would not stay silent at the persecution of the minority and the delusion of the majority.  He manoeuvred nature to stir up thoughts and questions that would shake their worldview.

He caused a famine in the land that worshipped the god of rain.  Day after day, when the children were thirsty and the crops withered away, the people would be confronted with the question, “Why is Baal not giving us rain? Is Baal god?”  Some doubted, but many maintained that Baal was still god, that they just needed to work harder, worship better, to please him and get what they wanted.

So many today are still entrapped in this cognitive dissonance.  We struggle to work, save, buy, sell, and build.  When the job fails or circumstances deter us from that dream, facts point towards the mercilessness of the Market and the instability of the value of riches.  We experience time and again that moths destroy and that thieves break in and steal, and yet we continue to work harder and give more homage (our time, efforts, and obsession) to the pursuit of worldly gain.

But God does not stay silent in this struggle of the masses.  He cries out through messengers for us to come and see for ourselves who is God.

The prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel bled themselves into a fury trying to get Baal to send fire down on their altar.  Finally, when evening came, Elijah poured water over the altar of Yahweh, three times.  Then he prayed:

“Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again.”

Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!” (1 Kings 18:36-39)

God has proven Himself in history.  He has revealed Himself personally.  He calls us to resist the call of Baal and to worship Him only:

“How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” 1 Kings 18:20

The call is loud; it is subtle.  It’s universal; it’s perpetual.

No matter where you are in the world, no matter your background, the Lord God calls you to worship Him who alone can fulfil the true desires of your heart.

by: Jinha Kim

"But those who drink the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:14