My Great Salvation

[Romans 5:1-11]
Therefore, since I have been justified by faith, I have peace with God through my Lord Jesus Christ. Through him I have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which I stand, and I rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, I rejoice in my sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put me to shame, because God's love has been poured into my heart through the Holy Spirit who has been given to me. For while I was still weak [lost in my sins], at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person I might dare even to die-- but God shows his love for me in that while I was still a sinner, Christ died for me.

Since, therefore, I have now been justified by his blood, much more shall I be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while I was an enemy I was reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that I am reconciled, shall I be saved by his life. More than that, I also rejoice in God through my Lord Jesus Christ, through whom I have now received reconciliation.

Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul,
Thank you, Lord, for making me whole;
Thank you, Lord, for giving to me
Thy great salvation so rich and free.

12 Dec 1996

My first prayer was answered that night.


Mark 5: 18-20
18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him.
19Jesus did not let him, but said, "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you."
20So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis^[c]how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed."


It was the last day of Youth Camp held in an old school building. Pastor Mike preached a sermon from Mark 5 and I remembered the invitation went something like this (probably not exactly!), "You have heard that Jesus died for your sins, and you know that Jesus is the only Way. You may be the only one in your family to hear this good news. If you really love your family, you need to tell them this good news, but you can't till you have received it yourself."

Right after that was some singing and an invitation to give praise to what the Lord has done in each one’s life. Though my eyes were closed, I remember the pressure when I felt when I everyone around me could give thanks for what God has done or have been doing in their lives. I didn’t have any. But I was actually praying! I prayed that God would give me more time to ‘consider’ this gift of salvation. Then, I remember my best friend, Grace, taking her bible and literally running out of the room. She was sobbing. I was really puzzled because I thought I had made my friend upset. JoAnn came along and I remember telling her that I don’t know what happened to Grace, she ran off sobbing. And I think JoAnn said something like, “Maybe I know!” She took me to the school hall and we sat on the stage, in the dark (and fed mozzies!). We talked for a loooooong time. Can’t recall most of the content, but I was struggling in my heart, I mean, there was a tugging that was within me and I knew that it was God. The words “I believe, I want to be saved!” was repeated many, many times, but I just couldn’t say it out. But I finally did.

The moment I said I wanted to be saved, the burden that was in my heart ‘miraculously’ lifted! It was almost impossible to express that feeling of joy.

Sometime later, I found out that while I was gone, God had used all those at camp to pray for me! God does hear & answer the pleading of the righteous.

He is still hearing & answering prayers.

The Conquering Faith

This is the paper topic I've chosen for my General Epistles' assignment. It's due in approximately 20 hrs. I'm at 6 RAW pages - The last 4 that I have written this past semester have been written & re-written at least 5 times each. This is so crazy...

I'm seriously in need of GREAT conquering faith! arghhhhh.....

Terrible Twos?

2 weeks before finals, 2 papers due next week, 2 quizzes on Monday, 2 pieces to practice for piano exam...

well, i think i'll:
take 1 more hr to do as much as i can for 1 paper tonight so that i have 1 less to do
:)