Overflow of the Heart

Our words have the amazing ability to save people or completely tear them down. Whether we are aware of it or not, the words we speak can inadvertently affect people in the most profound ways. In Matthew 12:33-37 it describes, not only the strength of our words, but also the source of its power, and the consequences of what happens when we ignorantly misuse its gift. Ultimately words are about the overflow of the heart.

1. Words reflect the heart - Words will reflect who you are. It will declare to the world what kind of Christian you are. It is one of the many tools we possess to identity to others what's in our hearts an it is one of the most used, abused and often confused tool we utilize in our daily spiritual walk.
2. Words reveal the heart - Words are a metaphoric mirror which reveals the nature of your character. The words you speak reflects to others what kind of person you truly are. We often try to brush aside things we say accidentally by labeling it as nothing more than "unconscious words." However, these unconscious slip of the tongues have a tendency to be closer to the truth then the intentional words we often proclaim to others. In v34 it states "You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks." In other words, we can not speak something that's not already in us. If your heart is filled with bitter and discontentment, how will ever find it in you to bring true words of encouragement and kindness? Furthermore, forcing ourselves to habitually be silent doesn't solve the problem. In v33, it tells us the only solution is by amending the heart. "Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit."
3. Words redeem the heart - Your words are a testimony to what kind of Christian you are. We live in an age where we feel it's okay to say whatever we want without fear of recourse. However in v36 it tells us "But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken." Not only will our words be held accountable but "every careless word!" For words already spoken can not be taken back. Once the harsh words are let loose, the damage is already done.

Therefore, if words are the essence that overflow from the container of our hearts, then it becomes essential that we fill this vessel with the knowledge of the Word. For only the living Word can teach us how to bring out words that edify others even in moments of anger. "For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."

--from Nakwon EM November 25th 2007 Sunday Worship Service
*To listen to this sermon in its entirety, please contact James Kim

"Stick and stone can break my bones but words will never hurt me"
You've obviously never been hit by a dictionary!

You know, it's kind of funny...

As November's Thanksgiving Day strolls along in the year, it is usually piggybacked by December's Christmas Day. We see Christmas trees and holiday decorations displayed in store windows; we hear Christmas jingles on the radio; we attempt to be proactive and buy Christmas gifts early; (and this one is good...) we hectically plan and practice our presentation for the annual joint Christmas worship service. So, it never really occurred to me that I don't take as much time enjoying the season of Thanksgiving until I remembered what Tobi said when we were walking down a street in Flushing.

After seeing a brightly lit Christmas tree in a store window, she said, "Oh gosh. I don't want to see Christmas trees in November... can't they let us enjoy Thanksgiving?" (I’m sure that isn't verbatim because I have a horrible memory. But- it was something to that effect) :P Anyway, I realized how easily we fall into the deception that Thanksgiving is just about feasting and family-ship without seeing the real meaning behind it. Kind of like how people forget that "Jesus is the reason for the season" during Christmas.

In the same way, Jesus is the reason for this holiday season as well. I find myself getting caught up in the traditional motions of celebrating this day and with shallow reflection of "What I am thankful for" that I’m sure Jesus is saddened by my ungratefulness. I mean, Thanksgiving was originally celebrated after the first harvest of the Pilgrims who came from religious persecution in England. We probably wouldn't be here if God hadn't ordained the history of England or this nation.

Sometimes, I forget how privileged we are to actually live in the states. We have so much opportunity here and I fail to take advantage of all that God has provided us. It is an absolute BLESSING and we should live every single day in thanksgiving!

Check this out. In 1789, President George Washington issued a national Thanksgiving Proclamation. Do you know what he wrote??? It’s amazing. He said:

"Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be—That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks—for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country...for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed...and also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions—to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually...To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us—and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best."

Wow. When I read this decree, my eyes widened just thinking how far we have strayed from God. I thought, “Wow. So this is the kind of faith our nation was founded on… look at us now…” I know I tend to cry a lot, but when I read this, I couldn’t help but tear and repent for myself and for this country.

It reminded me of the entire Psalm 106 where the psalmist begins with, “Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever” and continues on describing the Jews’ disobedience and God’s unchanging love for them. It says:

7 When our fathers were in Egypt, they gave no thought to your miracles; they did not remember your many kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea.
13 But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his counsel.
21 They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt,
24 Then they despised the pleasant land; they did not believe his promise.
25 They grumbled in their tents and did not obey the LORD.
39 They defiled themselves by what they did; by their deeds they prostituted themselves.

And this is what humbles me and makes me get on my knees in thanksgiving... the psalmist says:

8 Yet he saved them for his name's sake, to make his mighty power known.
43 Many times he delivered them, but they were bent on rebellion and they wasted away in their sin.
44 But he took note of their distress when he heard their cry;
45 for their sake he remembered his covenant and out of his great love he relented.

Amazing. I’m sorry I got a little carried away with this entry, but as I was doing my QT this morning- I just felt God urging me to remember Him.

So, using Psalm 160, this is my prayer:

Hallelujah LORD~ I thank you so much for your love and goodness. Words cannot come close to expressing how great You are. God, I thank you for those who maintain justice and constantly do what is right in your eyes. I pray that you show favor to your people and unveil our eyes to see this world as you do.

Please help us to enjoy the blessings you give so that we may “share in the joy of your nation and join your inheritance in giving praise”. Lord, I am in awe of You because You never fail to show kindness to your people even when we are such a crooked and deprived generation -that even when we fail to remember you and even when we curse you, you still continue to love us and cover us in your grace and mercy.

Lord, I pray in repentance. I pray that you forgive us and this nation for forgetting You, disobeying you, and for defiling ourselves. God, let us return to You! I pray that you raise up more and more people who can be like Phinehas who stood up and intervened for his people. Lord, for you credited it to him as righteousness. Let our hearts break for your people, Father… that we wouldn’t just sit by and do nothing, getting fat on your Word for ourselves. But that Your word would move us into action.

This Thanksgiving Day, I pray that we would remember YOU and bring ALL praise and glory to YOU and YOU alone.

47 Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise.
48 Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Let all the people say, "Amen!" Praise the LORD.

So, all these things I pray in Jesus’ mighty Name,
AMEN! PRAISE THE LORD.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING GUYS :)
I LOVE YOU <3

"Simba, you have forgotten me. You have forgotten who you are and so forgotten me. Look inside your self Simba, you are more than what you have become, you must take your place in the circle of life. Remember who you are.... remember...." Mufasa :) haha

Giving Thanks

Colossians 3:15-17 speaks about the relevance of giving thanks in our Christian walk. In all three verses, the common attitudes is being thankful.

1. Heart ruled by the peace of Christ gives thanks - Being thankful is not a natural reaction. For fallen beings like us, it is a concept that must be taught, and it is ultimately the peace of Christ that teaches us how. It is this peace that will decide how you live your life. Yet it is not something we can attain until we submit our worries to God. It is only then, through the power of prayer, we slowly achieve an unexplainable peace which can ground you even in the harshest of storms. Contrary to common belief, finding thanks giving isn't when you have something. Rather it's giving thanks when your going through hardships. True thanks is demonstrated during you trials.
2. Grounded in the Word of Christ gives praise - When the Word permeates through every facet of your life, praise will naturally rise. Praise is an natural expression of thanks. However, if you can not grasp of what God accomplishes in your life daily, then you will never find thanks. So how does one open their minds to the glory of the Lord? The answer is simple; it all starts with the Word.
3. Life aligned with the will of God will give thanks - In the story of Daniel and the lions den, we see the life of a remarkable man, who faced the dilemma of being killed if found praying. Yet despite the threat to his life, Daniel fell to his knee and prayed 3 times of day giving thanks to the Lord. Daniel was able to do this because he spent over 70 years of his life praying to the Lord. Daniel was in the habit of giving thanks to the Lord, so when he trials came, it was only natural for him to get on his knees and continue praying.

A true heart of thanks can be demonstrated during the good times and the bad. Do you thank the Lord for you troubles? When life knocks you down is the first thought that enters you mind a prayer of thanks? The bible chronicles amazing tales of people like Paul and Peter who endure unbelievable hardships and yet always finds peace within themselves. A true heart of thanksgiving will bring glory to God, and God in return will bless you with a indescribable peace that can center you no matter how shaken up your world might get.

--from Nakwon EM November 18th 2007 Sunday Worship Service
*To listen to this sermon in its entirety, please contact James Kim

when in doubt the answer is COMFORT!";-)

The Contentment of Being Loved

Our free will might stem from the fact that we have the ability to ignore God. We seem to have the uncanny ability to block out God's words no matter how hard He tries to talk to us. Yet it seems it is in our moments of deafness is when we often fall into our discontentment. Too often do we find ourselves gauging our levels of happiness to our intrinsic material possessions. As if our scales of contentment can be offset by the weight of our wealth. How often have we found ourselves saying "if only I had that shiny new car" or "if only I could afford that beautiful condo overlooking the water front.", which of course makes it even more ironic since by now we are past the stages of our infancy naiveties. Just as we now realize how trivial that childhood "Happy Meal" was, deep in our minds we also realize that the new car today will turn into tomorrow's heavily insured heap of scrap metal. Yet despite this revelation why do we subjugate ourselves to these thoughts? Maybe it's because we've learned to ignore God. After all it's one thing to know about God, it's another thing to have a relationship with God. It's no secret we have God missing in our lives. It seems no matter what we try to satiate our hungers, we always find ourselves feeling lonely or frustrated. Maybe that feeling of despair is our soul yearning to be closer to God. Even though we've learned to block it from our minds, it doesn't mean our souls have. As Christians we are taught that we are designed to worship the Lord. Then it only seems logical that when we astray from that purpose our, we will only find disappointment. It's like trying to cut a steel pipe with a paper scissor. Sure, you can try as hard as you want, and maybe you'll even scratch the metal, but ultimately it's a futile attempt and down-right ludicrous. After all, what in our world can possibly measure up the glory of our Lord, because ultimately that's what we are looking to do.

Silence of God

We often associate silence of God to unanswered prayers. We have come to expect three kinds of answers when we ask God for help; Yes, No or Wait. When we do not receive an answer we begin to fall into despair. As cruel and unbearable the silence can be, there is a profound meaning in this silence. In John 11:1-15, 32-37 we read about the death and resurrection of Lazarus. This story provides a great insight into the silence of God.

1. Silence of God is an answer - The first step in every one's faith is to accept that God comprehends your situation better than anyone else. After all, how can we claim to believe in an all-knowing, omnipotent God and not accept this truth. The second step, and often the stumbling block for most, is to believe that God love for us is greater than anything in the world. Whether it's for you, or for someone else, your feelings for your loved ones pales in comparison to His. v35 summaries this powerful notion in on simple phrase, "Jesus Wept". Jesus, who knew that he will raise Lazarus from the dead, still wept for him.
2. Silence follows and fortifies faith - Faith is believing in advance what only makes sense in hindsight. It is only through our struggles and trials that we grow with the Lord. It is impossible to grow spiritually without ever being tested.
3. Silence ushers into greater intimacy and revelation - Is your perception of God as a giver of gifts? If so then your understanding of our Lord is greatly limited. Prayers is a way to align ourselves with God's purpose, not the other way around. As much as we should rejoice in the blessings of the Lord, we must also rejoice in the silence. Because silence serves as an opportunity to come closer to God. For God will never burden us with something He feels we can not handle. Ultimately, silence is God's way of telling us that He trusts we are strong enough to receive a great revelation. In v15 we hear Jesus tell his disciples that Lazarus' death and eventual resurrection will serve a purpose to help us believe. It will give faith to His followers.

Silence is God's way of asking you for your trust. Do you trust that God is in control? That no matter how dire the situation might be, He always has your interest at heart? Do you believe in His love for you? If you can not come to accept this truth then your faith will wittle away and be replace with doubt.

--from Nakwon EM November 11th 2007 Sunday Worship Service
*To listen to this sermon in its entirety, please contact James Kim

KIDS Lord's Prayer

I found it!

(3-year old Reese) "Our Father, Who does art in heaven, Harold is His name."
(3-year old Caitlin) "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from E-mail."
(4-year old) "And forgive us our trash baskets, as we forgive those who put trash in our baskets."

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A mother was preparing pancakes for her sons, Kevin 5, and Ryan 3. The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake. Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson.

"If Jesus were sitting here, He would say,'Let my brother have the first pancake, I can wait.'

Kevin turned to his younger brother and said, "Ryan, you be Jesus!"

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A father was at the beach with his children when the four-year-old son ran up to him,
grabbed his hand, and led him to the shore where a seagull lay dead in the sand.

"Daddy, what happened to him?" the son asked.

"He died and went to Heaven," the Dad replied.

The boy thought a moment and then said, "Did God throw him back down?"

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A wife invited some people to dinner. At the table, ! she tur ned to their six-year-old daughter and said, "Would you like to say the blessing?"

"I wouldn't know what to say," the girl replied.

"Just say what you hear Mommy say," the wife answered.

The daughter bowed her head and said,"Lord, why on earth did I invite all these people to dinner?"


=)

The Worshipping Idolater

1 Samuel 15:17-31 tells the story of the the turning point of King Saul's reign over Israel. It speaks about how Saul disobeyed God's command and ultimately paid the price for it. Saul's flaw was that he tried to replace worship with obedience. His actions didn't reflect the worship he tried to demonstrate and this misunderstanding with God prevented him from truly repenting for his mistakes. So how do we define worship in our Christian lives?

1. Expression of Life - Worship is not a concept that is caged inside the four walls of a church. It is not bounded by some magical forces that prevent it from existing beyond Sundays. Yet so many of us treat it as if it was. Worship, in it's truest form, is an extension of our life. It lives as an expression of our lives, reflecting day-to-day how we carry ourselves through the constant trials of temptations.
2. Complete Obedience - In v20-21 when Saul is asked why he didn't carry out God's command and destroy everything, he says "But I did obey the LORD... I went on the mission the LORD assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal." Saul tries to justify his actions by skewing the very command God has given him. In his mind he felt that partial obedience was enough. However in God's eyes, partial obedience is just as bad as disobedience. The danger of partial obedience is that you are ultimately trying to negotiate with God's mercy. As if you can bribe God into letting you get away with your sins if you can "offer" God something in return.
3. Genuine Repentance - From v24-30 we see Saul continually trying to repent for his sins, but God ultimately rejects him. There is a huge difference between regret and repentance. John Ortberg describes this syndrome as pain avoidance. Do you repent in fear of God's wrath? Do you rationalize that if I go to church, read the bible, do all my QTs then God will look the other way as I commit my sins? If so then your view of repentance is greatly skewed. True repentance is when you realize that what you are doing is wrong and you ask the Lord to help you overcome your urges to commit them.

Worship is an expression of life characterized by complete obedience and genuine repentance. If your worship doesn't reflect your daily life, then it will become disguise you wear to conceal your actions and ultimately you will fall away from God. There's nothing that God hates more than lukewarmness. What does your worship of God say about you?

--from Nakwon EM November 4th 2007 Sunday Worship Service
*To listen to this sermon in its entirety, please contact James Kim

Saul and his 3 BMWs