November Newsletter: Jesus is the beginning and the end

Revelation 22:13 (NIV)

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End."

After coming back to the place that I was brought up with for 4 months, it is by God's grace that I can see my surroundings, and culture differently with blessings and hope. Before knowing God's love, it was easier for me to drown into my selfish way of thing, the way how I look at everything was all about me. After meeting Christ, I realize I could not attain hope through myself. Basically, there is no HOPE in who I am, in what I can do, but God.

Remember the life before encountering Christ, I was full of anxieties, so self-centered and self-defending that I came to the realization that I can’t find outlet from this world. It was just like empty self-seeking vicious circles. I could not find rest and always need to find different goals or motivation driven by fears to prove that I was living.

2 Corinthians 5:17(NIV)

"if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has gone, the new is here! "

1Peter 1:3 (NIV)

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. "

Joy in Trials- James 1:2-5 (NIV)

“My brothers and sisters, consider it nothing but joy when you fall into all sorts of trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect effect, so that you will beperfect and complete, not deficient in anything. But if anyone is deficient in wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without reprimand, and it will be given to him.”

Even after becoming Christian, there are still a lot of trials and struggles, and the blind spots of my personality that is preventing me from experiencing the radiative love and grace of His salvation. As I have been learning and seeking him more and more lately, I understood Faith does not build up in one day, it is like muscle training, it is a gradual process that we have to and will build up for the time being. God will refine our faiths and beliefs through difficulties and hills he has prepared in the road ahead. The best and most beautiful thing is: When we learn to surrender (recognizing we cannot climb up the mountain merely with our own strengths) each little & big thing in life to him. I could start to enjoy the freedom and the peace that he intended for me on that cross.

Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)

"Come to me all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Sometimes, leaving some blanks in the schedule and leaving some personal time for God is another form of surrender in the hustle and bustle modern society we habitate in. It is important to set aside the troubles and tangled thoughts piled up by the world once or twice a week. Leaving it totally blank to God, learn to let Holy Spirit guide through those blank periods, I usually found great surprises and treasurable moments in those blank periods that I have reserved for God.

I would like to share several testimonies, which happened beyond my human understanding in November in Keelung. I would need your prayerful help to pray for the names/ people listed below.

Philippian 4:6-7

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

I started busking in Marine Plaza in Keelung last Saturday afternoon since I figured worshipping is a very useful & natural tool to draw people’s attention.

There was a foreigner who sat right next to me that I decided to talk to him. It turned out that he is from Myanmar, and he goes to a seminary school in Nuanuan district of my town. I could not be more surprised to find someone willing to study in a seminary school outside of the capital city of Taiwan slash Taiwan is a Buddhism country. I was really amazed by how God has brought him here and the vision he had for Christ’s ministry. We exchanged emails and his name is Andrew. He told me he usually goes to Marine Plaza on Saturday afternoon to chill, sometimes if lucky, he would share gospel with elderlies there.

While talking to Andrew, there was another young man who came closer because of Pipi & Didi. His name is Bouchuan. Bouchuan mentioned he used to go to church; he even started learning playing guitar when he was in junior high school. Somehow, he left the church because he found no passion about going there anymore. He even mentioned to me he has 4 bibles at home just because he liked to read them so much. I felt how much God loves him and wanting him to be back to a strong community where his faith can be supported and grow with Christ. It was also really eye opening for me to know different Christians from different backgrounds throughout the city.

After saying goodbye to Andrew and Bouchuan, Pipi & Didi & I left for grandma’s house. On the way to grandma’s house, Pipi & Didi went into a restaurant, I had to go in and drag them out. As I went in, I met the sight with the one lady. She saw my big guitar case, she told me she bought a guitar and ukulele several years ago, however she never played them. She asked me if I can teach her guitar. I said sure. When we were about to leave, she took out her phone and asked to add me on LINE, as I saw on her desktop, there was a figure like angel opening her arms like Jesus. I immediately asked her who that is. She said she is researching a lot about big angels these days; she is also interested in Christianity. I exchanged LINE and number with her immediately and told her I am a Christian. She said her sister, who lives in the south part of Taiwan is also a Christian and has been praying for her faith.

I was so encouraged by God. It’s only by God’s grace that I could met her that day, there is no way I could find such a lady like her in my town by yelling for broadcasting Jesus Christ on the street!

On Sunday, when I was on the way home, I saw a beggar was knocking his head so hard to the ground to beg money from people. He even had a big hole in the back of his pants that you can even see his ass. That was such an unpleasant moment. However, I was filled so much with God’s presence that I could not just walk away or give him money to brush up. I sat down immediately right next to him and asked if he knows Jesus Christ. He said yes, he got baptized twice at the age of 13 when he was in reformatory.

His parents passed away when he was 13, and he has started the homeless life-style since then, and he is now 25. Since he wrapped something on the left side of his eye, I asked him what happened. He said he has been not able to see well since he was 3, and the doctor told his family there is no cure for his eye. I happened to read John 9, Jesus heals a man born blind that morning, so I shared with him about the story.

When disciples asked Jesus who sinned, the man or his parents that he is born blind. Jesus responded, neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. As I told him about that, he took out the cigarettes in his pocket and started smoking and told me he has to go back to the place where he begged. I said yeaaaahh…. Of course you can go back…okay… I will pray for you, and I believe I will see you again if God wants us to, and then I started to head towards home.

As I started walking, I saw another man I saw yesterday while I was busking. We started talking and he told me he is an aboriginal people from the south and he is living with his cousin’s family. He doesn’t like to go home at all, whenever he is free, he will walk around the whole city for the whole day. I yelled at him when he was deciding whether to hike at the mountain close to my neighborhood. I found out that he is also a Christian, however, he stopped going to church because losing motivation. I told him about the homeless guy I just met, and told him I would like to buy some new clothes to the homeless guy, wondered if he can come with me. He immediately said yes. So we went back to the spot where he begged, and he was still there.

I told him, “Please do not worry about how people look at you. There are thousands kinds of people in the world, they all can look at you in different ways, but only how God looks at you matter. In God’s eyes, these people are not any better than you, only Jesus is perfect without sinning in his life, the rest of us are sinner, no one is better than you, they might wear clothes and look clean, but God looks at your soul, your heart, not what you wear outside. In God’s eyes, you are just as precious as any other souls.”

I bought several shirts and pants and a jacket for him, but I know clothes do not save his life but God’s love will. So I said, let’s walk him home. It turned out that the homeless guy actually stayed in a hotel where he has to pay 1,000NTD per night. We followed him back to the hotel, and he invited us to go to his room. We hesitated for a second but decided to go up. The hotel actually looks pretty normal, not as shady or creepy as we thought. We sat down at his place and he started to change to the clothes that we have bought for him. After that, we went for dinner. I could not stop praying because there were many moments that I know there is nothing my words can offer, but only through prayer that God can help him. After that, I have not yet seen him again in town.

John 16:33 (NIV)

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Every day we are witnessing many different kinds of brokenness in the world. It really makes me sad. However, besides being sad passive and yelling in my heart: “Jesus, can’t you do something?” James answered.

Faith & Works Together: James 2:14-26 (NIV)

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can this kind of faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm and eat well,” but you do not give them what the body needs, what good is it? So also faith, if it does not have works, is dead being by itself. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith without works and I will show you faith by my works. You believe that God is one; well and good. Even the demons believe that – and tremble with fear.

But would you like evidence, you empty fellow, that faith withoutworks is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? You see that his faith was working together with his works and his faith was perfected by works. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Now Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And similarly, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another way? For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

James 1:17-18

“All generous giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or the slightest hint of change. By his sovereign plan he gave us birth through the message of truth, that we would be a kind of first fruits of all he created.”

I believe simply the humankind that he had made and created in his image. He loves each of us so much. In his love that we can only find treasures and wonders that we can’t not find in our own strengths and our humanly eyes. Sometimes God’s plan is crazy, and we have to have the spiritual maturity first so he can guide us and use us at whenever, wherever he wants to!

I learned that lately through practicing and seeking him with all my heart & my mind & my soul.

Again, tonight when I was walking home, there was a lady, walking dog right next to me, I started talking to her randomly again. She told me she is originally from China and she moved to Taiwan because her husband is a Taiwanese. She expressed how unhappy she is in her marriage because her husband is quite chauvinism which is different than when they were dating. And life in Taiwan is much lonelier than her thought. I prayed and hugged her and invited her to come to the up-coming Christmas Party that will take place in my house.

I clearly know all of these encounters are not by accident, but have already been planned in God’s hands. I felt really honored that he trusted me so much that he led me to see these beautiful souls in the way I could have had not seen before, I am so thankful for that.

As a result, I decided to start writing monthly or weekly summary sometimes here so you will know what is happening in Keelung, how Jesus has been moving here supernaturally, faithfully. I invite you to be a prayer partner of our Jesus Is Love Eternity Ministry in Keelung.

As prayers are powerful, all of people I have mentioned above need your prayerful support to let God interfere to their lives.

In addition to this, please also pray for my grandma’s family on my dad’s side. My grandpa has passed away several years ago, and my uncle also passed away last year due to alcohol overdosed. My auntie in law is from Vietnam. They didn’t have a happy marriage due to cultural barrier and it was more like an arranged marriage. I have seen a lot of brokenness in that family since I was young, but because I didn’t know God, I didn’t have that heavenly perspective, I didn’t believe I have the power to change things through Jesus Christ. As a result, please be praying for me as I will share Gospel through reading bible with my grandma every Saturday.

I just bought a Taiwanese bible for her last Saturday as her first language is Taiwanese, when my Taiwanese is only basic. Please pray that God’s spirit will be spoken through as we read bible together. Also, praise the LORD!! I also gave my cousin a bible, she didn’t even know what is bible before I handed to her. Even though she is already 14, she has actually never heard of bible in her life. Isn’t that amazing that God made himself known to her in such a Buddhism secular culture?

We look at the hope that we have in Christ Jesus but nothing else, In Christ alone, our hope is found. In Christ Alone!

The only hope of life is Christ Jesus. Satan, who deceives the whole world (Revelation 12:9), tries his best to take the eternal hope we have in Christ away from us.

The truth is that God plans a great resurrection has been distorted and even ridiculed because Satan hates the glorious potential God intends for mankind through resurrection from the dead. God intends, according to a timetable of His own design, for all mankind to know the truth about the resurrection and the hope of eternal life (2 Peter 3:9)

Thank you for your time and patience to finish reading the long and unprocessed testimony happened in November in Keelung, we know this is just the very pre-face of the great things God is going to do in Keelung. Please pray for us!!! We need your prayer!! Please especially pray for the up-coming Christmas Party in December 20th!!

John 14:12

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.

End.

#christianity #faith