Hello! In 2010, I set out to conquer Project 365. Every day, I took a picture that captured a part of my day. Regardless of whether I spent the day in China or spent the day doing nothing, I had to take a picture. It was challenging & I thought about quitting after about two weeks. Eventually though, I fell in love with the project--it was almost obsessive. Everywhere I went, everything I did, I was calculating- how should I take the picture, where should I take the picture, what should I take the picture of, which picture do I choose? As I looked through the finished project in the beginning of 2011, I was overwhelmed by the evidence of God's presence and blessings in my everyday life through those pictures. So, why not? Why not have a Project 365 that recognizes His everyday blessings? I hope to become obsessed. I want to be on the lookout for His gifts everywhere I go & in everything I do. I want to see the Lord's beauty in all aspects of my days. I want to see my life through God's infinite grace and mercy. At the top right corner, there's a link "&yours?" I would love for any of you to post your blessing of the day so that we can praise our Lord together! :)



Liberal Social Services Jesus



February 15, 2011

That’s Liberal Social Services Jesus,” Bargain Jesus said. “He thinks the best way to tell people about God is through service, but he never talks about God. He’s great to have around because he keeps the place spotless.”

Excerpt from Imaginary Jesus, by Matt Mikalatos

It’s hard to explain this book, but basically it’s about Matt Mikalatos trying to search for the true Jesus, and along the way he runs into a bunch of imaginary Jesus’. Such as the Liberal Social Services Jesus (there’s also the Legalistic Jesus, the Conservative Truth Jesus, the Hipster Jesus, the Hippie Jesus, etc…super funny book by the way).

This part made me realize that I’m serving in a way that Jesus did not. It’s not enough to just serve serve serve.

Basically, I keep asking myself: What makes me different from other non-profits that also serve the homeless? What sets me apart? Jesus. It’s not enough to just serve in the name of Jesus, I need to proclaim His name.

February 14, 2011
Someone brought up the honeymoon phase the other day when asking me about Kevin&I. I guess I’m not supposed to be in the honeymoon phase anymore, right? How long does that phase last anyway?—1 month? 1 year?
Well, my friend Wikipedia cleared it up for me a bit:

The honeymoon period is the phase early in a long-term relationship with  a person, place or thing that is characterized by greater than typical  joy and lesser than typical friction. It is typically the first 3 months when a couple begins to date.

Ok. Long term relationship, check. Greater than typical joy: I can honestly say that I’m as happy to be in Kevin’s presence as the first day we started going out, if not more. Actually, for sure more. Check. Lesser than typical friction: I think it’s more true now than it was in our first three months. Check.
So, with the data that I’ve gathered, the conclusion is that I’m still in the honeymoon phase! & it sure does feel like it too :)
Sorry for the cheesiness, but it’s Valentine’s Day and it’s allowed. 

February 14, 2011

Someone brought up the honeymoon phase the other day when asking me about Kevin&I. I guess I’m not supposed to be in the honeymoon phase anymore, right? How long does that phase last anyway?—1 month? 1 year?

Well, my friend Wikipedia cleared it up for me a bit:

The honeymoon period is the phase early in a long-term relationship with a person, place or thing that is characterized by greater than typical joy and lesser than typical friction. It is typically the first 3 months when a couple begins to date.

Ok. Long term relationship, check.
Greater than typical joy: I can honestly say that I’m as happy to be in Kevin’s presence as the first day we started going out, if not more. Actually, for sure more. Check.
Lesser than typical friction: I think it’s more true now than it was in our first three months. Check.

So, with the data that I’ve gathered, the conclusion is that I’m still in the honeymoon phase! & it sure does feel like it too :)

Sorry for the cheesiness, but it’s Valentine’s Day and it’s allowed. 


What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?



February 13, 2011

I am often in awe of this characteristic God; this omni-love thing God has going on is so amazingly hard to wrap my head around.
That as sinners, Christ died for us.
That as followers of Christ, (hopefully) proclaiming his righteousness, we still choose to spit in His face and defile His name by knowingly disobeying His commands.
And as we do this, God is still mindful of us and God still loves us.

I know I won’t really ever understand this concept of unconditional love, but I’ll take it! :)

February 12, 2011
KINDLEEEEEEE!
Thank you Kevin Choy. :)
Now maybe God will bless me with more time to read?

February 12, 2011

KINDLEEEEEEE!

Thank you Kevin Choy. :)

Now maybe God will bless me with more time to read?

February 11, 2011

Coffee&popsicles with my favorite Tran Tran.
Why a blessing? Because I love being a part of her life, her walk with God, etc. & I LOVE that she is a part of mine. :)

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Acts 2:42

February 10, 2011
This is Sonya, a foster child that I mentor. It was her birthday today :)
I’ve been mentoring her for a year, but lately it’s been getting more and more difficult to want to hang out with her.
I’ve been praying & asking if God wants me to continue serving in this ministry. Although I’m still not completely certain I’m going to continue or stop, today was a blessing nonetheless. She really didn’t want to take these pictures but I think she did it to make me happy. :)

February 10, 2011

This is Sonya, a foster child that I mentor. It was her birthday today :)

I’ve been mentoring her for a year, but lately it’s been getting more and more difficult to want to hang out with her.

I’ve been praying & asking if God wants me to continue serving in this ministry. Although I’m still not completely certain I’m going to continue or stop, today was a blessing nonetheless. She really didn’t want to take these pictures but I think she did it to make me happy. :)

Jericho Road

A thousand times I've failed
Still your mercy remains
And should I stumble again
Still I'm caught in your grace

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame

My heart and my soul, I give You control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise, become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Your will above all else, my purpose remains
The art of losing myself in bringing you praise

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame

My heart, my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise
From the inside out, O my soul cries out

My Soul cries out to You
My Soul cries out to You
to You, to You

My heart, my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise
From the inside out, O my soul cries out

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise
From the inside out, O my soul cries out
From the inside out, O my soul cries out
From the inside out, O my soul cries out.

February 9, 2011

God gave so many beautiful blessings today.
One of them was being able to catch up with Jenny Park. She brought up the topic
of social justice & why I had a heart for God's people who were marginalized in this
world. That question was a blessing because I felt like it was God's reminder for me
to not get too comfortable in the homeless ministry i serve in, or too comfortable
with the foster child I mentor. God was reminding me to be passionate about His
people, and that means passionately looking for more ways to love on others with
Jesus' amazing love.

I was reminded that we are still living on Jericho Road (Luke 10:25-37).


I’m proud of you.
I really am.




February 8, 2011

For those who don’t know, I am in InterVarsity’s Homeless Ministry. Every Tuesday night, we go out to A street & Union street to hand out PB&Js, water, and bananas. We stay out there for 1.5-2 hours and hang out with the people out in that area.

I can honestly say that this ministry & the people I meet in this ministry has been and is continuously  God’s biggest blessing to me.

Now back to Thomas. I’ve known Thomas for about two years. He’s been homeless for several years, but his love for God and for those he meets on the streets is greater than the love I’ve seen expressed from anyone who has a home.

Okok, I’ll get to the point. Out of no where, Thomas says to me, “Leslie, I’m proud of you. I really am.” To receive affirmation from Thomas, someone who I respect and adore immensely, meant more to me than any affirmation I’ve ever received for this ministry.

Lord, break my heart for what breaks yours.
This is a prayer that has been on my heart for the past two years & God has been steady in unveiling what breaks his heart. 

I watched The 800 Mile Wall today. I’m not posting it here to say that I’m taking a stance for or against the issue, but I’m posting it to encourage you to watch it. The main takeaway I got from this wasn’t the rights&wrongs of illegal immigration, but the video had a very specific emphasis: as human beings, how can we become so indifferent to the sufferings and the deaths of other human beings? How can we as human beings encourage and instigate death upon another human being? 

Main point: God exposing what His heart breaks for to me. &every time He does this, it’s a sign for some good growing to come :)

February 6, 2011
My brother tucked me into bed today. :)

February 6, 2011

My brother tucked me into bed today. :)


Likes
Following
Follow me