February 2012
2 posts
Things I've Been Learning #3...
“It is better to lose your life than to waste it.” ― John Piper
I’ve recently realized that I have an absolute fear of wasting my life. As I’ve grown up and matured in my faith I’m finding more and more that this life I live is not my own. This life is meant to be lived for the glory of our Father and should be used to further the Kingdom of God. As I reflect on these past...
January 2012
10 posts
I didnt blog for the last few days because the internet at my grandma’s place is ridiculously slow. On the other hand it’s been nice having an internet free life for a couple days…but the time has come for us to head back home! Right now we’re at the Narita airport waiting for our flight :) we have a 6 hour layover until we can board the plane and sit through another 10...
Day 7 & 8
Day 7
went to go eat at a nice Wagyu beef restaurant :) Twas delicious
went shopping around Kobe
had coffee and tea and cake at a little cafe
ate at a popular udon restaurant
Day 8
went to go eat at restaurant that specializes in eel donburi
looked around to find free wi-fi
went to the Christian book store in Kyoto
I’ve been eating non stop! Everything in Japan tastes so good :)...
Day 6
slept in
went out to lunch with my dad’s good friend
shopped around
came home
watched tv
Today was relaxing. We were able to buy most of the items that we need or want. The last item on our list is the Cola Hi-chew…I still can’t seem to find it anywhere :( Hopefully tomorrow will be the day we find it!
Day 5
went to church
ate udon for lunch made by the lovely ladies of the church
went out to a different city to visit some very good family friends who also held a service in the late afternoon
went out to eat to fellowship with some of the people from the second church
Today we got to meet our very good friends Jack and Keiko. Jack is the American pastor who baptized both my dad and Keiko. They...
Day 4
went out to meet with a family friend (he’s pretty much an uncle to me)
ate ramen for lunch
went to a Japanese dessert cafe like place
my uncle took me out shopping and he bought a cute bag for me :)
walked around the Nishiki market (where they sell lots of pickled vegetables and other traditional Japanese food)
came home and Grandma made yakisoba
I am officially sick and am sure I...
Day 3
Got to sleep in this morning :)
went out to get my nails done!
did a lot of shopping for souvenirs etc.
ate omurice
came home and ate dinner with Grandma
watched one of our favorite Japanese movies that was playing on TV
My first experience in a Japanese nail salon was amazing. Their customer service is phenomenal and they’re extremely gentle, delicate, and precise during the entire...
Day 2
another hearty traditional Japanese breakfast
went to Osaka to visit Mom’s side of the family
ate tempura at a nice restaurant with the grandpa, aunties, cousins
spent the day shopping
ate at a super bomb revolving sushi restaurant
finally home in Kyoto!
Today was much more tiring than yesterday since there was a lot of walking to do! Shopping in Japan makes me happy :) They have...
Day 1
Ate a hearty traditional Japanese breakfast (made by the lovely Grandma)
went grocery shopping
Grandma spoils me with a Sashimi lunch
all take a walk down to Uniqlo for shopping!
Grandma makes hotpot for dinner :)
Today was very relaxing :) I am thankful for the simple things I get to share with my Grandma. Walking with her to the market allowed me to experience what her daily life looks...
JAPAN, oh how I’ve missed thee! It is FREEZING here! I already miss the California weather, but nonetheless I am thankful I’m in the motherland :)
Here’s to the start of a great vacation filled with delicious food, lots of shopping, and quality family time!
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
Matthew 7:21-23
December 2011
2 posts
“Fight for us, O God, that we not drift numb and blind and foolish into vain and empty excitements. Life is too short, too precious, too painful to waste on worldly bubbles that burst. Heaven is too great, hell is too horrible, eternity is too long that we should putter around on the porch of eternity.” ― John Piper
“This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.”
-Hebrews 8:10
November 2011
6 posts
Things I've Been Learning #2...
This has been a struggle for me. I want to be able to know and understand His word better each day, but it’s been hard with this constant lingering question: Is my understanding truly the intention and meaning of His word? Am I being self-righteous in that I’m interpreting the Bible to cater to my own wants and needs? I pray to God that this isn’t true but sometimes I don’t...
“The core problem isn’t the fact that we’re lukewarm, halfhearted, or stagnant Christians. The crux of it all is why we are this way, and it is because we have an inaccurate view of God. We see Him as a benevolent Being who is satisfied when people manage to fit Him into their lives in some small way. We forget that God never had an identity crisis. He knows that He’s great and deserves to be the...
October 2011
7 posts
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your...
Better is one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere
- Psalm 84:10
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
-Provers 31:30
So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of...
Your will above all else, my purpose remains The art of losing myself in bringing You praise
September 2011
3 posts
good morning, my beautiful princess! I hope you have a wonderful day at school! sorry I came so late last night, but guess what? Thomas and I learned how to tie scarves many different ways! cool, huh?
okay, love you, bye! <3
1 tag
“Worry implies that we don’t quite trust that God is big enough, powerful enough...”
– Francis Chan (“Crazy Love”)
August 2011
5 posts
Things I've Been Learning...
“If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you love, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying ‘Let us go and worship other gods’, do not yield to him or listen to him. Show him no pity. Do not spare him or shield him. You must certainly put him to death. Your hand must be the first in putting him to death, and then the hands of all the people....
Thank you Traci Matsushima
So my dear friend Traci got me this devotional for my birthday and I was SO HAPPY & EXCITED to dive in and be able to spend time with God daily. I particularly LOVED this devotional and decided to post it :)
Put God in His Rightful Place: First Place
As you think about the nature of your relationship with God, remember this: you will always have some type of relationship with Him- it is...
Today I turned 20 and I am overwhelmed with a feeling of gratefulness for the people God has placed around me. I already knew my friends were amazing but being able to celebrate my birthday with them is something that is very special to me. I love birthdays whether it’s my own or anyone else’s. I think it’s such a happy time and great opportunity for people to do something fun...
July 2011
2 posts
Lately I’ve been struggling with the idea of grace. I’ve experienced first hand the love and grace of God but it’s been hard learning how to apply that in my own life. It’s so easy for us to forget the grace we’ve received and be quick to anger and judgement…it becomes almost natural to snap back into worldly behavior.
Father God, tonight I pray that you...
She's a cute one :)
Me: Go on dates with Jesus
Alisa: haha you, too
June 2011
4 posts
11/20/10-6/23/11; I love you Frankie boo
For those of you who don’t know…Frankie was in a car accident today and he passed away this morning. This is extremely sudden and there’s still a part of me that can’t believe that he’s gone but I feel blessed to have gotten to spend the past couple of months with him.
This post mainly goes out to my AACF family because I really wanted to say and express how much...
Father God, I am burnt out…
“The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on...
THIS GIRLLLLL
Mel: i cant tell you online
Naomi: im effing tired as heck
Mel: it's like super serious
Naomi: nigga tell me
Mel: business
Naomi: right now
Just went through a BUNCHH of my mom’s old clothes & taught her what vintage is and how it’s very fashionable. She gave me like 4738291301 things I can now wear & promised to adjust all the ones that need some modernization :)
Feels like I just went to the Goodwill Outlet…SUPER EXCITED
May 2011
1 post
So I’m sitting here doing some worship preparation in my Dad’s office where some young elementary school kids have Sunday School and here are some of their quotes I had to share…
* Two kids having their own little conversation on the side: “How do you hear God? I’ve never heard God’s voice before…” -“You hear God inside your heart”
...
April 2011
5 posts
mel, you are SO fun to mess with.
KAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
KOOHOOHOOOHOOOHOOOOO! HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE!!!!!!
man, i crack myself up.
your stomach keeps making noises. you don’t have to poop or fart though, so i don’t know why it’s doing that!
It makes me happy to see you more happy :)
I am thankful for days like today
March 2011
6 posts
Tonight I actually got to really sit down and talk about what’s going on in Japan with all of my AACF brothers and sisters. & I think through all of the news and videos about Japan…I’ve been trying to hold it off. I didn’t want to face the reality of how broken and devastated the situation is. & because of that I couldn’t bring myself to watch any videos of...