Atonement

"Apart from God's grace, no one has power to do anything but sin... grace is the only hope for any sinner."

Atonement ... a definition I like is the work that Jesus did in living and dying to earn our salvation.

As I read this, it really makes me think... oh man, without the grace of God, our destination is hell. No matter how hard I try to earn my salvation or to earn God's favor, it's impossible. My offering and my sacrifice is imperfect. I would be bound to punishment for my sin from a God who cannot be with any sort of sin. Someone has to pay for sin, right?

Yet, God in His amazing and faithful love chose to send Jesus. Why? So I wouldn't have to pay. Even if I tried to pay, it would be like trying to give my two cents to a debt of a bajillion dollars. (if that even existed!) It would fall completely short. Jesus, in His perfection, knew that He was the perfect sacrifice and He was obedient to the point of death. Obedient, knowing that my obedience would fall short and that only He could appease the wrath of God. And He paid the price that I couldn't pay and He gave His life freely so that I could receive freely.

Jesus lived the perfect life and earned the salvation that we ourselves cannot earn. Why? Cause we'll fail no matter what, we'll fall short, our attempts are imperfect.

He lived the perfect life and died the perfect death so that I could die to myself and to find life once again in Him.

What I could not atone for (nor can anyone else) was atoned for by the gracious love of God. The wrath I deserved was placed upon Jesus at the Cross and there I was freed. The salvation that I could not earn and atone on my own, Jesus did.

You don't get any more awesome than that.

Thank You Jesus for living the perfect life, dying the perfect death and resurrecting in perfection to top it all off!

Haha thank You Jesus!

Last day

Last day at my job

It came a lot quicker than I expected

I've learned a lot through this job (maybe I'll share that later)

For one thing, I've learned a whole new meaning to patience

(God must have placed me at this job to build up my patience for India... God knows all!)

I've learned that not every Korean grandma/grandpa is the sweetest person in the world (yes, you may call me a jerk but it is what it is)

I've learned that it is tough to work and do my job or any job in general with true joy

And many other things.

What's next?

Nightmares

I hate nightmares.

They seem so real, but I know they're not.

Seniors

So, as some of you know, I work at a senior apartment building. It's low-income housing and so much of the work I do is paperwork and assisting in the compliance department to get people moved in. When I first started the job, I never really thought about the people moving in and I was just focused on the task of interviewing people, reviewing their files, and getting them moved in.

What I've noticed over the last few weeks, as the tenants begin to move in one by one, is how many of them really are on their own. The building is for seniors, so everyone is 62 or over. Many of them tell me stories of how their loved ones have passed away, either recently or it has been many years. Many of them come alone and have no one to help them. A lot of the tenants are Korean and can't speak a lick of English so I translate for them with what little Korean I know.

I don't know why but it breaks my heart to see so many of the tenants on their own. Some of them do have family nearby but many do not and so they are left to survive on their own. When I look at many of them, especially the Korean tenants, I think of my own grandma and it's hard to not want to help them in whatever way I can.

I don't know, I feel like I'm reminded of how cruel and broken this world really is, that seniors late in their years, are left to themselves. In all honesty, it doesn't seem fair. Maybe because I'm young and I still have yet to really understand life. Maybe I'm just naive and unwilling to accept reality. Whatever the case, my heart breaks for these seniors.

Yet, I feel like I understand a glimpse of what Ecclesiastes means when it keeps saying, "All is vanity" because this world is fading away. It really is all vanity. This imperfect world will soon pass but heaven will be lightyears beyond what this world is. So, I'll take my hope in that.

Bridges

I wish I was better at building bridges rather than torching them.

I guess it's just something I need to work on.

Sesame Street

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IX_bLa82iOs

Always play nice.

Always try your hardest.

It's ok to cry.

Can you tell me how to get

How to get to Sesame Street...

2009

2009...

A year of mistakes made

A year of lessons learned

A year of growth

A year of struggle

A year of countless blessings

2010...

What do you have in store for me?