I like fireworks!

I am evidence that people like music even when they don't know what the song is about. I'm not proud to admit that, but it's true. I love "Firework" by Katy Perry and I finally know what it's about: Finding your self-worth. Isn't it true that many of us underestimate what we were made to be? In seeking God and his heart, I can confidently say that He made me ON PURPOSE WITH PURPOSE. I believe that goes for all people. With that, even though Perry doesn't have the most "innocent" songs, she gets it that we are all fireworks! We are something to be celebrated and cherished.

So, go on and take a hold of the worth in which God has given you through his son, Jesus Christ. And you don't have to tip-toe through life. Make loud steps, make a mark. Don't worry about the scars or the bruises. Don't worry about falling. If you do, there's really only one direction to go and that's upward. You are worth it, so very much.

That's my 2 cents for the day, baby!




Smile Big, Firework =)

-E.H.

Confronting Nothing

"It is nothingness that I have to face in my solitude." -Henri Nouwen

I wonder what Barack Obama thinks about when he's by himself at the end of the night, about to sleep, in his bed.
I wonder what Genghis Khan thought about in his solitude, his many, many days in prison, in silence.
And what about Bill Gates?
Or Oprah Winfrey?
Or Martin Luther King Jr.?
Or...you?

Why do we like to keep busy so much and cry out for rest or peace and quiet?
Why do we allow the hustle and bustle of our very own thoughts, that are quite often more odd or disturbing than not?
Why do we feel obligated to "become something"?
Why do we get involved in things?

What is your motivation to do anything? Is it God? Is it your pride? Your greed? Your parents? Your friends?
What makes you feel more substantial, that by taking on another mountain of sorts you became something else or that you are simple little you and nothing else?

What's so bad about being simple little you and nothing else?
When did we start feeling like being simple little us was bad?
Why do we feel like being simple little us is bad?

Simple little you is wonderfully and fearfully made.
Go ahead, find quietness, find solitude.
Nothingness is never really nothing because even nothing is something.

THAT made me smile today. Thanks God ^_^

Smile Big,
E.H.

5 Second Rule

Hehe, I know this picture may make you think that I'm referring to that rule when you drop food on the floor and consider it good-to-eat if you pick it up in the quick 5 seconds its on the ground. But, I'm not. Today was one of those downward domino days, one bad thing leads to the next bad thing, to the next bad thing. And before you know it, you're driving down a road that is closed for construction with a horrible rattling noise from a flat tire you're praying will magically heal itself by pumping air back in, messing up your day. REJECTION. (Hence, the cute little "talk to the hand" picture!)

God picks such crucial moments to sit you down (literally, I was sitting in my car seat) and quiet everything around you (again, literally had to shut off my engine and sit in the middle of a closed off neighborhood entrance where no one can enter). And he gave me the "new" 5-Second Rule:

Now, depending on the kind of situation you are in, it could take longer but here are the steps I took during my "5-seconds":

1. STOP! Get something to write on/type on and write down everything that has gone wrong
3. BE HONEST about how you are feeling and what you are thinking. No one is around to scold you for being the way you simply are.
4. Repeat what you wrote to God
5. Think about the worst thing that can happen to you, which for most people in all extreme cases is DEATH.
6. Touch your face. If you can feel your face, you are probably still alive. Good for you. Pat yourself on the back.
7. Since you reminded yourself that you have not faced the worst of the worst, all those awful things still might make you feel stinky, but REMIND YOURSELF there is hope yet to make things right.
8. Breathe and move forward.

Hehe, I know, I know! This is pretty silly, but honestly...this is what I did in my car as I waited for my mom and AAA to come and save my ass! And you know what? God restored a little bit more joy and hope in my heart than I had started out with today.

You know how they say, "Hey, it's not the end of the world"? It's TRUE (to some extent). And honestly, as I was driving home, I was so thankful because even if I did die I know exactly where I am going! And where I'm headed ain't so bad :P

Okay, so it's just 2:12pm, Friday afternoon. I still have time to do what I can. I still have time for God to change me and work in me.

So remember the next time you're feeling frustrated, discouraged, or anxious: 5-Second Rule!
Take the 5 seconds to Stop, think, be honest, pray, and count your blessings. It's easier than makin' pie!

Eat your veggies, kids!

Smile Big,
E.H.

Praise God & 83 Chairs!

Below is an e-mail I wrote to three lovely ladies at my church. Two of whom, along with myself, are the core group for my church's newest small group: cafe ministry. The e-mail will describe what went down today.

"Missy, Judy, and & Marilyn,

I can't contain myself because of what the Lord allowed me to hear. This e-mail is regarding the cafe ministry and our prayer request for furniture. Marilyn, although you are not officially a part of the cafe ministry, I just HAD to include you in the e-mail because this experience reminded me of you!

Okay, so I was on my way to drop off Phil at work and we're talking about where I can study. He suggested Panera Bread because it was close by but I told him I didn't want to go there because it was too "commercial"...haha =P Before he got out of the car he said, "Well, good luck wasting your time looking for another cafe!" And my pride was kind of hurt and GOD did something in my heart to give in for my pursuit to find the "perfect place" to study and I opted to go to Panera.

So...I'm sitting at Panera with my Earl Grey tea (DELISH!!!) and blueberry muffin (EVEN MORE DELISH!!!), doing some LSAT practice problems and for one second, my ears perked up at the sound of one of the bus boy's conversations! He was talking to another worker and said, "We're getting new furniture and are getting rid of the ones we have right now." God INSTANTANEOUSLY reminded me of our cafe ministry and our request for cafe furniture!!! Okay, so I lifted up a quick prayer to God because I was starting too get REALLY EXCITED!...I finished my problems and decided to go talk to the manager to find out what they woudl be doing with the old furniture (WHICH LOOK IN PERFECTLY GOOD CONDITION!!!).

Here's what went down:
Basically, Panera workers get first dibs. Whatever is left, is given to the contractors later tonight AFTER business closing, and THEN are thrown in the DUMPSTER.
THEY ARE BASICALLY UP FOR GRABS IF NONE OF THE WORKERS CLAIM THEM!!!
Okay, so here's my "plan" and I would love it if one of you could join me.
I will be heading to Panera around 8:45pm today, 15 minutes before closing, to speak with the manager (it'll be someone different because of changing shifts). Then depending on what he/she says, we'll wait for the contractors and speak with them. I've already ask both my dad and my brother to see if there are people who can lend us trucks/vans to for the furniture if God allows us to have it. The dumpster comes around 2-3 am...but I'm hoping we can get the furniture well before then if it's up for grabs.

This could be God showing us an opportunity. Regardless of what the outcome of this, God has given me hope. Please lift up praises and thanks to God while asking him to make tonight possible!
I'm just so excited to see what God does tonight. I am definitely hoping that He would allow our church to have the furniture and I have to say that I'll be disappointed if we don't...but I know I am still encouraged because He has given us hope that there are possibilities out there for GOD'S cafe ministry to happen solely by HIS power and HIS mercy <3

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Can someone flip out with me! =) This is so cool!

Okay....BYE!"


That e-mail was sent sometime around 3pm this afternoon. It is now 11:34pm and my church now has 83 BEAUTIFUL cafe chairs. I know that God provided them for us. I know God will fill those seats.

I can't help but smile and giggle.
My should seriously hurts, I didn't do well on my practice test, I don't know what tomorrow will bring. All I know is that God LIVES and that is more than I can ask for.

Smile Big,
E.H.

Words from the most beautiful woman in the world

From an e-mail my mom sent me:

"Jesus, please be the centre
Be my source, be my light
Be my hope, be my song
Be the fire in my heart
Be the wind in these sails
Be the reason that I live


jesus , jesus, Jesus, please be my vision
Be my path, be my guide
Be my source
Be my help...


엘렌아 너무 힘들지 ?
미안해 도와 주지 못해서 ... 그러나 우리에게
Father God, Son of God, Holy spirit이 함께 하시기에 your life according to God's
desire !!!!!
remenber these.....

엘렌을 너무나 사랑하는 엄마가 ~"


Thanks God for the encouragement you give me through my mom.

Smile big, bigger than you can bear.
E.H.

Did anything ever astonish Jesus?

Hehe, it's a funny thought right?
Well, I'm reading Matthew 8:5-13 and it says that, yes, Jesus was astonished! =)


"When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help.

'Lord,' he said, 'my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering.'

Jesus said to him, "I will go and heal him."

The centurion replied, 'Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my rook. But just say the word , and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldier under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant 'Do this,' and he does it.'

When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go! It will be done just as you believed it would." And his servant was healed at that very hour.'


Cool things about this passage:
1. This centurion (Roman leader of 100 soldiers) came to Jesus in Capernaum just to seek healing for his SERVANT.

2. Jesus was ASTONISHED. I definitely grew up thinking, "Oh, nothing could ever move Jesus to be surprised. The man slept through a storm on the sea and simply told the sea to shut up. He knew when he was going was going die. What could surprise Jesus?" You know? =) Jesus really was a man of FAITH.

3. When the centurion came and told Jesus about his servant, Jesus replied so easily and willingly. The centurion didn't even have to ask, "Will you heal him?"

4. The metaphor he uses for those who will be in Heaven and those in Hell...it's a dark metaphor, but at least here, he says that "many" will come to feast.

5. Jesus did as the centurion pleaded and simply healed the servant right from where he stood.

6. The centurion's depiction of who he is in society. He is a man of high ranking but still, he comes on behalf of his SERVANT, and humbles himself before JESUS saying that he is not good enough for the Lord but that he trusts and believes in the Lord. Even though he knows he is not worthy, he doesn't run away from Jesus. Rather, he came to him.

Very, very cool =)

Smile big,
E.H.

Birthdays!

So, I woke up this morning and I was like, "I think it's someone's birthday today...but I can't think who..." And I just brushed it off.

I'm sitting at a Barnes talking to my buddy I ran into and all of a sudden the girl next to us tells us it's her birthday, then this dude behind my friend chimes in telling us it's his birthday as well. And then I remember it's my girl Haejin's 21st! ...How funny =P

So, none of these people will probably see this, but HAPPY BIRTHDAY EVERYONE WHO WAS BORN TODAY! God loves you!

Thanks God for making so many children today.

Smile and blow a candle,
E.H.