Imperfect Life

Day 28: Lord, please instill in my children a soul that follows hard after you, one that clings passionately to you.(Psalm 63:8) Soul that clings passionately to God even when we don't understand. I pray that my children will cling to God more than ever. In current times, upside down world where evil prevails, untruth boasts more than the truth. This post-modern times where we are all confused and side tracked from what is good and just. We connect to others only on the surface but refuse to connect on the soul level. We see our worth only by the end product while being contemptuous of the process. I pray that my children will cling to God passionately. Over and over gain, that they will cling and cry out to Him. And His right hand will uphold them.

Day 27: Willingness and ability to work: "Teach my children, Lord to value work and to work at it with all their hearts, as working for the Lord, not for men" (Col 3:23). One thing all my children do possess is grit. They've got it. They know it and they put it to work. Especially my two older kids, they've got the resolve. People take notice of them because they show up on time and do what they are expected to and beyond. They take charge and go one step further. They get things done! They've gotten amazing opportunities because of their work ethics. I am very proud and thankful that they have those characters. Hard workers and team players get noticed. Bosses want people who have good work ethics. Be on time, use time wisely, be honest, and be diligent. One more very important character of a good worker is their adaptability. Be a person who can see beyond what is being shown. Be a problem solver and be a person who can use all of the resources in people. ...

Day 26: Gratitude " Help my children to live lives that are always overflowing with thankfulness and always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ". (Eph 5:20, Col 2:7) Today (10/28) is my daughter's birthday. She was born 19 years ago in the Lenox Hill Hospital in the upper East side of Manhattan. It's where JFK, Jr and other famous Manhattanites were born. At the time of her birth my husband and I were going through our first valley of despair together. Soon after we found out about pregnancy, we were faced with some difficulties in our life. We were very sad and anxious about everything during that time. Everything we've known to be our future was taken away. Some people suggested that we should not be pregnant at such difficult time. It was horrible. When she was finally born, healthy and perfect, we named her Jane (God's gracious gift) and her middle name Myung In (The source of light), she was born at 5:5...

Day 25: Servant's heart: "God, please help my children develop servants' hearts, that they may serve wholeheartedly, as if they were serving the Lord, not men." (Ephesians 6:7) Vision was the buzz words when I was in college as a young adult. Every college aged Christian circle talked about, preached about, contemplated about, and prayed about what our vision was. What was God calling us to do? We wanted to know! Many from my college group committed themselves to go into full time ministry to become pastors and missionaries. Truthfully, I felt a little convicted that I did not have that "vision" from God to become a pastor or a missionary. In retrospect, I wish I had enjoyed the youth that was allowed to me at that season of my life without worrying too much about what my vision was. Maybe we should stop asking young people what their vision/calling is. I believe vision is not only about career. It's a life style. My current attitude about vision/c...

The Lone Cypress, standing firmly planted surviving through harsh circumstances. Day 24: Hope: "May the God of hope grant that my children may overflow with hope and hopefulness by the power of the Holy Spirit". (Romans 15:13) This entry I'd like to share with my best friend Jennifer. Just the other day she and I shared our anxiety and frustration of our children's spiritual life. We met in a college group almost 30 years ago and have been friends since! When we first met, we were both all-black wearing Manhattan college girls, hip and young. Yeah, tell that to our girls! We grew (older) together over the years and share so much secrets, wisdom, laughter and tears. I can always, always count on her! We are like sisters we picked for ourselves as we both are sisterless. We grew together through college group drama, dating fiasco, mission trips, God-encounters, bitter relationships, heartbreaking life struggles, mistakes, confusion, rebellious times, marriage dram...

Day 23: Faith "I pray that faith will find root and grow in my children's hearts, that by faith they may gain what has been promised to them". (Luke 17:5-6, Hebrew 11:1-40) In my freshmen psychology 101 class I heard something that I still remember clearly. The professor was explaining Pavlov's theory and mentioned that a man came to therapy and discovered that he hated Christianity because of his negative experience growing up. Apparently, the man's parents locked him up in the closet whenever he refused to go to church as a teenager and the man vowed that he would never step a foot in the church when he grows up and can make his own decisions, thus creating a negative association. I remember thinking that I would never lock up my kids for not going to church...funny but not really because I realized that I may be locking them in a mental closet and creating negative association for them. My values are pretty traditional and fundamental. Some may say it'...

Day 22: Father, teach my children the secret of being content in any and every situation, through Him who gives them strength. (Philippians 4:12-13) It says in Philippians 4 to guard your heart and mind with peace of God. Guarding your heart and mind is an active will. You all know the story of Chicken Little, in fear of falling sky he runs and runs and runs from the inevitable disaster of his mind and instead lured in by the Fox, the real danger. Sometimes, we run around with grip, dissatisfaction and frustration of uncontrollable circumstances, we mindlessly get lured in by the Fox with his lies. We become hard and cold. We become unforgiving and ungracious. Contentment gifts us with thankfulness and praise. We become appreciative and loving. Let's enter into His gates with Thanksgiving today. With our lips, confess how Thankful we are for life, family and the real important matters in life.