사랑스러워지는 법

1. 거울 속의 자신에게 미소짓는 연습을 한다.
2. 사람들의 좋은 점을 찾아 칭찬의 말을 한다.
3. 나 자신의 잘못은 인정하고 잘한 일은 침묵한다.
4. 상대방의 말에 맞장구를 팍팍 쳐주자.
5. 고맙고 감사한 마음은 반드시 표현한다.
6. 때로는 큰 잘못도 눈을 감아준다.
7. 아이들을, 내 자신을 존중한다.
8. 매 순간 누구에게나 정직하자.
9. 나 자신을 가꾸는 일에 게을러지지 않는다.
10. 아무리 화가나도 넘지 말아야 할 선은 넘지 않는다.
11. 진정 원하는 것은 진지하게 요구한다.
12. 나 자신과 사랑에 빠져보자.
13. 갈등은 부드럽게 차근차근 푼다.
14. 소중한 사람들에게 진심어린 편지를 쓴다.
15. 마주치는 것들마다 감사의 마음을 갖는다.

Humility

[C.S. Lewis Institute] Reflections July 2003 - Humility

Humility
ugustine of Hippo said that, for those who would learn God’s ways, humility is the first thing, the second thing and the third thing. Eleven hundred years later, Martin Luther, when asked to name the three greatest virtues replied, “First, humility; second, humility and third, humility.” These are but two of the many great leaders who have stressed the importance of humility in the believer’s life.   What is humility? Surprisingly, it is not a poor self-image, nor a denial of one’s gifts, abilities and accomplishments. C.S. Lewis describes humility not as having a low opinion of one’s talents and character but rather as self forgetfulness.1 This entails a radical honesty with ourselves about ourselves that begins to free us from the denials, pretenses, and false images with which we deceive ourselves. Thus, John Wesley could describe humility as “…a right judgment of ourselves which cleanses our minds from those high conceits of our own perfections, from the undue opinions of our own abilities and attainments....”2    Paul calls us to this honesty when he says “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment... (Rom 12:3). In other words, sober realism about who we are, what we are, and from Whom our gifts and abilities ultimately come is essential to developing humility. This comes as we invite the Holy Spirit, working through the Holy Scriptures, to search and illuminate truth and apply it to our hearts and minds. As we begin to come to terms with ourselves, good and bad, strengths and weaknesses, we can move beyond preoccupation with self to loving care and concern for our neighbor.    How do we live in humility in the rough and tumble of daily life? Paul helps us when he says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Phil. 2.3-4). Paul then urges us to imitate Christ’s example of servanthood. As we serve our neighbors in love, we will find ourselves growing in the humility of Christ—which lies at the heart of a truly spiritual life.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name… (Philippians 2:5-9 NIV)
1 The Screwtape Letters, McMillian, p. 63. 2 Sermon on “The Circumcision of the Heart,” I:2

 

To Increase Humility

From the Winter 2009 issue of Knowing & Doing [C.S. Lewis Institution] :

by Jeremy Taylor
17th Century Clergyman and Author

1. Confess your sins to God often, and consider what all that evil amounts to, which you then charge upon yourself. Do not look at them as scattered at large distances in the course of a long life, but unite them into one continued representation. If all our sins and follies were heaped against us, we would certainly appear vicious and miserable. Possibly this exercise really applied to your spirit may prove useful.

  2. Remember that we usually criticize others on slight grounds and for little cause, and that one fly is enough to spoil the ointment as far as they are concerned. Since we are so severe to others, let us consider that whatever good they can think or say of us, we can tell them of hundreds of base, and unworthy, and foolish acts, any one of which were enough to destroy someone else’s reputation. So let them destroy our over-high opinions of ourselves.

  3. When our neighbor is lifted up by public fame and popular acclaim, we cry out that the people is a herd of unlearned and ignorant persons, poor judges and fickle. Let us use the same art to humble ourselves, and never take delight and pleasure in public acclamation.

  4. We change our opinion of others by their kindness or unkindness towards us. If my patron is bounteous, I think him wise and noble, and his faults are but small blemishes, while his virtues are mountains. But if he proves ungenerous, he is ill-natured, covetous, gluttonous; all he speaks is flat, and dull, and ignorant. This is indeed unjust towards others, but a good instrument if we turn the edge of it upon ourselves. It is reasonable that we should at least not flatter ourselves with too kind opinions.

  5. Call to mind every day some one of your foulest sins, or the most shameful of your disgraces, or your most indiscreet act, or anything that most troubled you, and apply it to the present swelling of your spirit, and it may help allay it.

  6. Pray often for God’s grace, with all humility of gesture and passion of desire, and interpose many acts of humility, by way of confession to God, and reflection upon yourself.

   7. Avoid great offices and positions, and those conditions where many ceremonies and occasions though necessary, will destroy the sobriety of your thoughts. It is certain that God is as greatly glorified by your example of humility in a low or temperate condition as by your generosity in a great and dangerous one.  

8. Do not become introspective about your own humility or any other grace with which God has enriched your soul. For since God often hides from his servants the sight of those excellencies which shine to others so that he may secure the grace of humility, it is good that you do so yourself. And if you behold a grace in yourself, be sure to give Him thanks for it, that you may not boast in that which is not your own. Consider how you have soiled it by handling it with dirty fingers, with your own imperfections. Spiritual pride is very dangerous, not only because it spoils so many graces by which we draw near the Kingdom of God, but also because it so frequently creeps in upon the spirit of holy persons. It is not a wonder for a beggar to call himself poor, or a drunkard to confess that he is not a sober person. But for a holy person to be humble, for one whom all men consider a saint to fear lest he himself become a devil, nesses, and to uncover his bad tendencies, is as hardas for a prince to allow himself to subject to discipline like the lowest of his servants.

  9. Often meditate upon the effects of pride and humility. First, that pride is like a cancer, and destroys the beauty of the most excellent gifts and graces, while humility crowns them all. Second, that pride is a great hindrance to the perceiving of the things of God, and humility an excellent instrument of spiritual wisdom. (Cf. Matthew 11:25) Third, that pride hinders the acceptation of our prayers, but humility pierces the clouds. Fourth, that humility is but truth and all pride is a lie. Fifth, that humility is the most certain way to real honor, and pride is ever affronted and despised. Sixth, that pride turned Lucifer into a devil, and humility exalted the Son of God above every name, and placed Him eternally at God’s right hand. Seventh, that God “resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble”: grace and pardon, remedy and relief, contentment in all conditions, tranquility of spirit, patience in afflictions, love abroad, peace at home, and utter freedom from contention and the sin of censuring others and the trouble of being censured themselves. For the humble man will not judge his brother for the splinter in his eye, being more troubled by the beam in his own eye. He is willing to be reproved, because himself has cast the first stone at himself, and is not surprised that others are of the same mind.

  10. Remember that the blessed Savior of the world has done more to secure this grace than any other. His whole life was a continued example of humility, a vast descent from the glory of the Father to the womb of a poor maiden, to the form of a servant, to a state of poverty. It would be a good but reasonable design if we would be as humble in the midst of our greatest imperfections and basest sins as was Christ in the midst of His fullness of the Spirit and perfect life.

  11. Drive away all flatterers and never endure them. He who allows himself to be so abused by another not only loves to have his own opinion of himself heightened and cherished, but is a fool for entertaining mockery.

  12. Never change what you are doing when someone approaches you suddenly. Do not try to seem studious or devout before him, but be the same as you were to God and yourself in privacy.

  13. To the same purpose, it is of great use that he who would preserve his humility should choose some spiritual person to whom he shall be accountable to reveal his very thoughts and imaginations, every act of his and all his behavior towards others in which there may be danger. By such an openness of spirit he may expose every blast of vain-glory, every idle thought, to be chastened and lessened by the rod of spiritual discipline. He who finds himself tied to confess every proud thought, every vanity of his spirit, will also perceive they must not dwell with him nor find any kindness from him; and, besides this, the nature of pride is so shameful and ugly that the very revealing of it is a huge mortification and means of suppressing it.

  14. Anyone who knows the laws of God, the rewards of virtue, the consequences of sin, and in spite of all this, runs foolishly into his sin and his ruin, merely because he is a fool, is like a madman rushing to his death. He that can think great and good things of such a person may admire a swine for wisdom and go for counsel to the prodigal and trifling grasshopper.

Ambition: Vice or Virtue?

[C.S. Lewis Institution] Reflections October 2004

Ambition: Vice or Virtue?

ne of the pervasive problems of American culture is the relentless pursuit of success, which is spawned by selfish ambition. Interestingly, one seldom hears anything about ambition in the church today. Indeed, it is regarded as an American virtue, along with motherhood and apple pie. However, the Bible addresses it differently. In Philippians 1:17 and James 3:14,16, such ambition is described by the same Greek word that Aristotle employed to describe one who sought political office by unfair means. Of course, not all ambition is bad. C. S. Lewis helps us distinguish good ambition from bad:

Ambition! We must be careful what we mean by it. If it means the desire to get ahead of other people – which is what I think it does mean – then it is bad. If it means simply wanting to do a thing well, then it is good. It isn’t wrong for an actor to want to act his part as well as it can possibly be acted, but the wish to have his name in bigger type than the other actors is a bad one.1 All of us struggle with selfish ambition at some point in life, and Lewis was no exception. He writes insightfully on this problem in a letter to his long-time friend Arthur Greeves who was struggling with being rejected by a publisher. From the age of sixteen onwards I had one single ambition [to succeed as a writer], from which I never wavered, in the prosecution of which I spent every ounce I could, on which I really and deliberately staked my whole contentment: and I recognise myself as having unmistakably failed in it.

The ambition that grows out of a desire to exalt ourselves and gain success at the cost of our character or at the expense of our neighbor arises from our own flesh and the values of the values of the present world. However, the ambition to do well those things that God has gifted us to do and to do them for his glory is an ambition that God approves. Paul uses a different Greek word when he speaks of this good type of ambition in II Corinthians 5:9, Romans 15:20, and I Thessalonians 4:11. This kind of ambition does no harm to our souls or to our neighbors; rather, it glorifies God and leaves us with no regrets in the end.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit,
but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
Each of you should look not only to your own interests,
but also to the interests of others.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus...
Philippians 2:3-5 (NIV)

C.S. Lewis on Humility (and Pride)

C.S. Lewis on Humility (and Pride) by Dr. Art Lindsley

Lewis goes on to say that if you want a test by which to know how proud you are, “ask yourself, ‘How much do I dislike it when other people snub me, or refuse to take any notice of me, or shove their oar in, or patronize me, or show off.’”

It is comparison that makes you proud. It is not necessarily pride to think that you are rich, clever, or good-looking. But it is pride to boast in being richer, cleverer, or better looking than others. Pride might make a man try to take another man’s girlfriend not because he wants her but to show himself better than the other man. Pride is never satisfied, but always demands more.

Pride is a major obstacle to knowing God. Lewis says:

As long as you are proud you cannot know God. A proud man is always looking down on things and people: and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you.

Later, he says, “ . . . pride is spiritual cancer: it eats up the very possibility of love, or contentment, or even common sense.”

Lewis is careful to point out a few things that are often confused with pride, but are not pride. First, pleasure in being praised is not pride, for Christ will say to some, “Well done thou good and faithful servant,” and it is not wrong to feel pleased when He says it. When a child gets good grades, it is not wrong to praise him or her or wrong for them to be pleased with the compliment. In fact, the prouder the person, the less they care what others think, as if their opinion mattered.

Second, it is not wrong for a father to be “proud” of his son, or of his father, or of his school, etc. In this case, proud might mean having a “warm-hearted admiration for.” This is not a sin. But if a father started bragging about his school as if his attendance there made him better than others, that would be a problem. Lewis says, “To love and admire anything outside yourself is to take one step away from utter spiritual ruin; though we shall not be well so long as we love and admire anything more than we love and admire God.”

Third, the reason God forbids pride is because He wants you to know Him. To know God means to put off our airs and be who we really are.

Fourth, it is easy to miss-characterize humility and to think that we have to look dejected and forlorn. Lewis says:

Do not imagine that if you meet a really humble man he will be what most people call “humble” nowadays: he will not be a sort of greasy, swarmy person, who is always telling you that, of course, he is nobody. Probably all you will think about him is that he seems a cheerful, intelligent chap who took a real interest in what you said to him. If you do dislike him it will be because you feel a little envious of anyone who seems to enjoy life so easily. He will not be thinking about humility: he will not be thinking about himself at all.

The first step in acquiring humility is to realize that you are proud. Until you realize this, nothing can be done about it. “If you think you are not conceited, it means you are very conceited indeed.”

What is Faith?

믿음은 하나님께서 우리의 소원을 들어주신다는 소망 속에 잔뜩 기대를 품고 있는 그런 감정적인 힘이 아니다.

믿음은 하나님께서 어떠한 분이신지를 믿는 것이며, 또 하나님께서 하신 말씀을 신뢰하는 것이다.

믿음은 레마(rehema), 특정한 때에 우리에게 주시는 하나님의 특별하고 생생한 말씀 위에 근거하고 또 로고스(logos), 곧 씌어진 하나님의 말씀 안에 계시된 하나님의 성품을 기초로 한다.

- 모든 그리스도인을 위한 영적전쟁: 딘 셔만 -

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

THE AMERICAN TRAIT OF DOING VS. BEING

[C.S. Lewis Institution] Relections for October 2012

C.S. Lewis took an hour nearly every day to personally reply in writing to his many admirers. This act of service is exemplified in the over one hundred letters he sent between 1950 -1963 to an American lady whom he had never met. One of these letters, published in the book, Letters to an American Lady, addresses the modern American dilemma for followers of Jesus-that of getting so caught up in doing good things that we miss what God really has for us to do. Lewis, a bachelor, writes to his pen pal friend, Mary:

"A line in haste about the bits underlined in your letter (which I enclose for reference). Don't be too easily convinced that God really wants you to do all sorts of work you needn't do. Each must do his duty 'in that state of life to which God has called him'. Remember that a belief in the virtues of doing for doing's sake is characteristically feminine, characteristically American, and characteristically modern: so that three veils may divide you from the correct view! There can be intemperance in work just as in drink. What feels like zeal may be only fidgets or even the flattering of one's self-importance. As MacDonald says 'In holy things may be unholy greed'. And by doing what 'one's station and its duties' does not demand, one can make oneself less fit for the duties it does demand and so commit some injustice. Just you give Mary a little chance as well as Martha!1 The Gospel writer Luke tells the following story: As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, 'Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!' 'Martha, Martha,' the Lord answered, 'you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her' (Luke 10:38-42 - NIV).

Have you given both Mary and Martha a little chance in your life this past week? Do you find yourself "doing for doing's sake," rather than enjoying time spent with the Lord and others. We are called after all, human beings, not human doings.

C.S. Lewis, Letters to an American Lady (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1967), pp. 50-51.

Ever Green~

There are times when I desperately need comfort from somebody but eventually get to realize that all I need to trust the Lord 100% and fully accept His unfailing love. Lord, I'm on the way~ Holy Spirit, I need you! Please help me out.. I LOVE U my Lord..^ ^ 

Wisdom from the Lord 

Jeremiah 17 (NLT)

⁵ This is what the Lord says:
“Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans,
    who rely on human strength
    and turn their hearts away from the Lord.
⁶ They are like stunted shrubs in the desert,
    with no hope for the future.
They will live in the barren wilderness,
    in an uninhabited salty land.

⁷ “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord
    and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.
⁸ They are like trees planted along a riverbank,
    with roots that reach deep into the water.
Such trees are not bothered by the heat
    or worried by long months of drought.
Their leaves stay green,
    and they never stop producing fruit.

⁹ “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things,
    and desperately wicked.
    Who really knows how bad it is?
¹⁰ But I, the Lord, search all hearts
    and examine secret motives.
I give all people their due rewards,
    according to what their actions deserve.”

Rainbow : His Promise

On my way to 삼일예배 on June 13th, 2012, such a clear rainbow was shown over my head, and it continuously followed my driving way. What a surprise! What a gift! Undoubtedly God's presence was all over me. The abundant love and peace from God were poured into my heart.

The rainbow reminded me of His promise: Deuteronomy 8, Luke 18, Isaiah 54 and on and on...

"I'm with you always! My promise given to you is unchangeable."

(Psalms 23)

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

행복 만들기 십계명

1. 자신을 사랑하라 – 행복은 자신으로부터 시작해야한다
2. 행복은 생각에서 우러난다 – 생각을 바꾸어라
3. 사건보다 해석이 중요하다 – 긍정적으로 나아가라
4. 예약된 행복은 없다 – 지금 행복하라
5. 외적 조건보다 마음으로 행복하라
6. 나누는데 행복이 있다 – 베풀어라
7. 행복은 감사하는 마음에 있다
8. 행복은 결심하는 대로 이루어진다
9. 행복도 습관이다 – 부지런히 연습하라
10. 사소한 일에 목숨 걸지 말아라

-  5월 가정의 달 목양칼럼: 워싱턴 성광교회 -

당신이 내가 살아가는 이유입니다

G 셤을 몇일 앞두고 만난 찬양과 영상...
울 예수님.. 처음 만난 그 때부터 끊임없이 속삭이셨는데..
나지막하게.. 그러나..  목숨을 건 사랑을 쏟아서..
상상할 수 없을만치 치열하게..
그러나 부드럽게..
우리 주님 그 사랑을...
이제야.. 이제야.. 아주 조금 알 것 같은 나..
사랑합니다 주님 :)

당신의 가정, 행복지수는 얼마?

1. 함께 기도로 하루를 열고 기도로 하루를 닫는다
2. 아침에 일어나면 가벼운 포옹이나 미소로 반긴다
3. 매일 칭찬과 격려의 보약을 지어주고 있다
4. 관심과 감사의 마음을 보여준다
5. 배우자를 인정하고 자랑스럽게 여긴다
6. 기념일과 생일은 꼭 기억하고 챙긴다
7. 대화를 위한 시간을 할애하고 준비한다
8. 기쁜 일이 있을 때 가장 먼저 생각나는 사람이 내 배우자이다
9. 한 달에 한 번 부부만의 데이트를 한다
10. 배우자와 있는 시간이 가장 편안하다
11. 작은 메모나 편지를 활용하여 마음을 전한다
12. 두 사람만의 여행이나 부부가 하나됨을 위한 공동체에 참여한다
13. 갈등의 권원은 내게 있다고 생각한다
14. 욕이나 저속한 말, 극단적인 말이나 무력 행동을 하지 않는다
15. 배우자가 자신과는 다른 차이점을 갖고 있다는 사실을 인정하고 수용한다
16. 눈을 보고 대화한다
17. 시댁, 처가 식구를 차별하지 않는다
18. 배우자의 취미와 관심사를 인정하고 동참한다
19. 배우자를 위하여 오늘도 기도한다
20. 가장 큰 위로와 힘이 되는 사람이 바로 내 배우자라 생각한다
21. 뜻밖의 선물과 포옹으로 배우자를 기쁘게 한다
22. 부부싸움은 링(가정) 안에서만 한다
23. ‘고마워요’ ‘사랑해요’라는 말을 자주 사용한다
24. 배우자의 외모와 건강에 관심을 각고 적극 돕는다
25. 아내는 하나님이 내게 주신 가장 귀한 선물로 생각한다

- 5월 가정의 달 목양칼럼: 성광교회 -


* 질문당 4점으로 100점 만점 채점
(통계상 80점 이상이면 높은 점수 ^^ )

Guilty or not guilty?

지금 사랑하지 않고 있다면..당신은 유죄! 라는 말을 들었다.

난 유죄 or 무죄?

Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13 NLT)

지난 주일 설교에서 부부 금술 진단법:

부부가 3분간 눈을 맞추고 있지 못하면..
부부관계에 문제가 있는거라고 하셨다.

눈을 맞추지 않아도 사랑한다고 말할 수 있다. 속임수다.
상대를 속이고 나 자신도 속일 수 있다.. 그러나 눈빛은 속이지 못한다.

두려웠나보다..
눈을 맞추기가..
내 속이 투명하게 보일까봐.

Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. (1 John 4:18 NLT)

이젠 눈을 보며 사랑한다고 말하고 싶다.

다 내어주고 다 품어주는 사랑.

예수님의 그 사랑..

When can I stand before him?

I thirst for God, the living God.
When can I go and stand before him? (Psalm 42:2 NLT)

(베드로후서)
8사랑하는 자들아 주께는 하루가 천 년 같고 천 년이 하루 같다는 이 한 가지를 잊지 말라
9주의 약속은 어떤 이들이 더디다고 생각하는 것 같이 더딘 것이 아니라 오직 주께서는 너희를 대하여 오래 참으사 아무도 멸망하지 아니하고 다 회개하기에 이르기를 원하시느니라
10그러나 주의 날이 도둑 같이 오리니 그 날에는 하늘이 큰 소리로 떠나가고 물질이 뜨거운 불에 풀어지고 땅과 그 중에 있는 모든 일이 드러나리로다

우리 주님 언제 오시나.. 언제 오시나.. 하고 있던 요 며칠
G 셤 준비하면서도.. 아.. 악한 세상에서 난 계란으로 바위치는 것 같구나
갈 길이 멀구나 ..
이러고 있는 나
그러면서 마치 주님 지금 오시면 당장에도 준비가 된 것처럼 구는 나

언제쯤 철 들려는지..

작년 이맘 때..
병명도 모른채 이상증세로 앓고있던 당시..
불과 1년전인데 참 까마득하게 느껴진다

그 때의 묵상을 돌아본다
경련이 지속된.. 그 날 아침.
만약 불구자가 되면 남은 삶을 어떤 모습으로 사려나..
이런 생각까지 갔을 때..

최선을 다한 것이 참으로 없구나..생각했다
내게 주신 탤런트를 개발할 생각을 않았구나
주님 만나는 날.. 무엇하다왔냐고 물으시면 참으로 부끄럽겠구나..

남들도 다 하는 거.. 기본만 했을 뿐이구나
내게만 주신 것. 나를 위해 주신 달란트. 하나님 나라 확장을 위해 주신 것들...
참으로 사용할 생각을 않았구나.

그 후...
선교대회, 선교여행, LA Call2All..
중국행, 한국행, G 셤 공부까지.. 한 해가 지났다
이제 1주 후면 시험이다
주님이 무엇을 말씀하실까
셤 결과보다 그것이 더 떨린다..
무슨 말씀하실까?!

저 이제.. 광야학교를 끝낼만큼 컸나요?
아버지.. 믿음을 주세요.
이 마지막 때에 내가 믿는 예수가 진리라고..
살아계신 우리 주님이 쉬지않고 일하고 계시다고..
우리를 너무나 사랑하시는 주님께서 재림하실 날이 머지 않았다고
내 삶을 걸고 선포할 수 있는 믿음을 주세요.

내게 주신 선교지. 워싱턴 DC
이미 4년전 3월에 주님 주신 산지를 왔건만..
내 삶은 아직도 광야 학교..

주님..
저 이제 준비됐나요?

내가 살고 싶은 집
내가 하고 싶은 일
내가 원하는 친구관계
내가 만나고 싶은 배우자
아직도 나.나.나.

.. 이렇게 연약해도..
그래도 나를 잡고 가시는 주님
꿈과 희망과 소망과 용기와 생명과 사랑이신 주님.
이기고 일어서도록 일어서서 걷고 뛰도록...끝까지 붙들어주세요
세상이 감당치 못하는 믿음..
행하는 믿음으로 살아가게 해주세요.
백문일답. 오직 예수 그리스도..!

(마태복음)
11이 모든 것이 이렇게 풀어지리니 너희가 어떠한 사람이 되어야 마땅하냐 거룩한 행실과 경건함으로
12하나님의 날이 임하기를 바라보고 간절히 사모하라 그 날에 하늘이 불에 타서 풀어지고 물질이 뜨거운 불에 녹아지려니와
13우리는 그의 약속대로 의가 있는 곳인 새 하늘과 새 땅을 바라보도다
14그러므로 사랑하는 자들아 너희가 이것을 바라보나니 주 앞에서 점도 없고 흠도 없이 평강 가운데서 나타나기를 힘쓰라
15또 우리 주의 오래 참으심이 구원이 될 줄로 여기라 우리가 사랑하는 형제 바울도 그 받은 지혜대로 너희에게 이같이 썼고
16또 그 모든 편지에도 이런 일에 관하여 말하였으되 그 중에 알기 어려운 것이 더러 있으니 무식한 자들과 굳세지 못한 자들이 다른 성경과 같이 그것도 억지로 풀다가 스스로 멸망에 이르느니라
17그러므로 사랑하는 자들아 너희가 이것을 미리 알았은즉 무법한 자들의 미혹에 이끌려 너희가 굳센 데서 떨어질까 삼가라
18오직 우리 주 곧 구주 예수 그리스도의 은혜와 그를 아는 지식에서 자라 가라 영광이 이제와 영원한 날까지 그에게 있을지어다

미혹에 이끌리지 않기 위해..
굳센데서 떨어지지 않기 위해..
예수 그리스도의 은혜를 입자!
그를 아는 지식에서 자라가자!

재림은 홀연히 오리라..

With meekness and fear:

베드로전서 3:15

너희 마음에 그리스도를 주로 삼아 거룩하게 하고 너희 속에 있는 소망에 관한 이유를 묻는 자에게는 대답할 것을 항상 준비하되 온유와 두려움으로 하고 

1 Peter 3:14-15

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: (KJV)

갈라디아서 6:1 -10

1형제들아 사람이 만일 무슨 범죄한 일이 드러나거든 신령한 너희는 온유한 심령으로 그러한 자를 바로잡고 네 자신을 돌아보아 너도 시험을 받을까 두려워하라 2너희가 짐을 서로 지라 그리하여 그리스도의 법을 성취하라 3만일 누가 아무것도 되지 못하고 된 줄로 생각하면 스스로 속임이니라 4각각 자기의 일을 살피라 그리하면 자랑할 것이 자기에게만 있고 남에게는 있지 아니하리니 5각각 자기의 짐을 질 것임이니라 6가르침을 받는 자는 말씀을 가르치는 자와 모든 좋은 것을 함께 하라 7스스로 속이지 말라 하나님은 만홀히 여김을 받지 아니하시나니 사람이 무엇으로 심든지 그대로 거두리라 8자기의 육체를 위하여 심는 자는 육체로부터 썩어진 것을 거두고 성령을 위하여 심는 자는 성령으로부터 영생을 거두리라 9우리가 선을 행하되 낙심하지 말지니 피곤하지 아니하면 때가 이르매 거두리라 10그러므로 우리는 기회 있는 대로 모든 이에게 착한 일을 하되 더욱 믿음의 가정들에게 할지니라 

  

고린도후서 7:1

그런즉 사랑하는 자들아 이 약속을 가진 우리는 하나님을 두려워하는 가운데서 거룩함을 온전히 이루어 육과 영의 온갖 더러운 것에서 자신을 깨끗하게 하자

온유와 두려움..

meekness (=humbleness) 온유한 심령
fear... 하나님을 두려워하는 마음

요즘 혀의 권세 혹은 독에 대해.. 말조심에 대해..
그리고 선한 일을 행할 것에 대해 지속적으로 말씀하시는 주님.

늘 그렇듯 내 자신을 바라보면 산 넘어 산.
나를 거룩한 자로 단련해가시는 분.. 성령님.
성령님이 아니고서는 이루어질 수 없는 매일의 기적.

소망에 관한 이유를 묻는 자에게 대답할 것을 준비하되,
온유와 두려움으로 하라는 말씀.

소망을 붙들고 정진해야할 시기..
하지만 각도 1도만 틀면..
다 부질없고 허무해 보이는 이 길
계란으로 바위치기 같은 심정..놓아버리고 싶은 마음도 드는 때에..
내 맘을 가장 잘 아시는 주님께서 말씀하신다.

소망에 관해 이유에 관해 대답할 것을 준비를 하라는 것.

나 유경.. 흔들릴 수 밖에 없는 연약한 존재라는 것을 이미 아시기에..
주님 주신 소망을 믿음으로 인내하고 이루어낼 수 있게 하시려고..
Fix my eyes on Jesus 할 수 있도록..
성령의 검인 말씀으로 무장시키신다.

그런데 온유와 두려움으로 준비하라는 것이 새롭다.

온유가 무엇을 말하는 것인지 애매했는데..
결국 겸손을 말하는 것.

혀를 옳게 사용하라고 주의를 주시는 것도,
오만한 자는 내뱉는 말로 드러나기에..

두려움은 곧 하나님에 대한 두려움.
하나님을 두려워하는 자, 자신의 자리를 정확히 아는 자.
피조물로서 주제파악을 하는 것.
결국 또 다시 겸손이다.

대답할 것을 준비하자.
온유와 두려움으로.

2012년 한해.. 소망에 집중하도록 도우시는 주님.
아무리 감사를 드려도 다 표현할 수 없는.. 감사하신 나의 주님.
그럼에도 나의 연약함으로 인해 때로는 지치는 인생 여정.
그럴때마다 일으키시는 주님.

"당신이 내가 살아가는 이유입니다"

Isaiah 55

8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.
    “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
⁹ For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so my ways are higher than your ways
    and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

1 Peter 5

⁶ So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. ⁷ Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus!

His Promise
His Voice
His Love

난민..Refugee
나그네..Traveler
외로움은 선별됨의 시작이다

핍박이 시작된다
예수님 만난 후에 목적은 한가지.. 주님을 얻는 것.

(벧전 4장 7-11절)
1. 정신차리라!
Be self-controlled.

내 믿음은 내가 지킨다
내 하나님은 내가 만난다
내 믿음은 내 몫이다

2. 근신하라
취하지 말라
바른 판단을 흐리게 하는 것을 끊어버리라!
기도하기 위해서 근신하라
기도하기 위해서 깨어있어라

3. 서로를 사랑하라
허다한 죄를 덮는 기회
세상 사람들의 웃음거리가 되지 않기 위하여

4. 서로를 대접하라

5. 서로 봉사하라
모든 은사는 서로를 돕기 위함
내가 받은 복은 유통시키기 위해 살라

위 5가지가 가르치는 한 가지 목적 - Why?!
모든 것을 통해 예수 그리스도로 말미암아 하나님이 영광받으시게 하기 위하여
하나님 영광 가리지 않도록

말씀에 응답하여 전신갑주 입고 앞만 보고 달려가라
우리는 할 수 없다. 그러나,

사람으로는 할 수 없으나, 하나님께서는 하실 수 있느니라

"믿음의 주요 나를 온전케하시는 이인 주 예수를 바라보자" (히 12:2)
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)

The way

[ 봄길 ]

-정호승-



길이 끝나는 곳에서도
길이 있다


길이 끝나는 곳에서도
길이 되는 사람이 있다


스스로 봄길이 되어
끝없이 걸어가는 사람이 있다


강물은 흐르다가 멈추고
새들은 날아가 돌아오지 않고
하늘과 땅 사이의 모든 꽃잎은 흩어져도


보라
사랑이 끝나는 곳에서도
사랑으로 남아 있는 사람이 있다


스스로 사랑이 되어
한없이 봄길을 걸어가고 있는 사람이 있다

하나님이 도우셔야 할 수 있습니다!

하나님이 도우셔야 할 수 있습니다! - 하용조 목사님

그리스도인에게는 풍년이나 흉년이 아무 의미가 없습니다. 우리의 삶 속에는 풍년이 있을 수도 있고 흉년이 있을 수도 있습니다. 인생에는 풍년만 있지도 않고 흉년만 있지도 않기 때문입니다. 중요한 것은 풍년이든 흉년이든 흔들리지 않는 믿음, 풍년 때 흉년을 준비하는 믿음입니다. 무엇보다도 그리스도인에게는 주를 위해 사는 믿음이 가장 중요합니다. 부유하게 사느냐 가난하게 사느냐, 성공하느냐 실패하느냐가 중요한 것이 아닙니다. 하나님과 함께 사는 것이 중요합니다. 주님의 도우심이 없다면 우리는 아무것도 할 수 없는 존재이기 때문입니다.

요셉이 삼십 세에 성숙한 사람이 된 비결은 오직 하나입니다. 하나님과 동행했기 때문입니다. 어릴 때부터 하나님과 함께 살았고, 하나님의 꿈을 가졌고, 하나님에 대한 믿음을 가졌습니다. 요셉은 하나님의 놀라운 은혜를 입은 사람입니다. 그리하여 삶의 모든 문제를 지혜롭게 해결할 수 있었습니다. 하나님은 그분을 의지하고 도우심을 바라는 자들에게 명철과 지혜를 주십니다.
요셉이 위대한 것이 아니라, 요셉의 하나님이 위대하십니다. 그는 부족하고 가진 것이 없는 연약한 사람이지만 하나님을 향한 믿음, 하나님의 뜻을 이루고자 하는 그 간절한 비전과 소망이 있었습니다. 그렇기 때문에 하나님은 그를 들어 하나님의 역사를 만들어 가셨습니다.

역사는 사람 중심이 아닌 하나님 중심으로 움직입니다. 우리는 인간의 역사를 말하지만, 사실 그것은 하나님의 역사입니다. 인간이 모든 것을 할 수 있는 것처럼 보이지만 실제로 인간이 할 수 있는 것은 아무것도 없습니다. 잠언 16:1은 이렇게 선언합니다. “마음의 경영은 사람에게 있어도 말의 응답은 여호와께로부터 나오느니라.” 사람이 계획할지라도 그것을 이루시는 분은 여호와 하나님이십니다.

시련을 겪고 모함을 당하고 말 못할 문제가 있다면 하나님께 가져가십시오. 하나님은 가장 선하고 의로운 방법으로 해결하실 것입니다. 시편 기자는 이렇게 권면합니다. “네 길을 여호와께 맡기라 그를 의지하면 그가 이루시고 네 의를 빛같이 나타내시며 네 공의를 정오의 빛같이 하시리로다”(시 37:5~6).

하나님의 때가 있습니다. 하나님의 방법과 목표가 있습니다. 여러분이 기대하는 결과가 아니더라도 실망하지 마십시오. 두려워하지 마십시오. 하나님이 여러분을 높이 들어 쓰실 것입니다. 하나님이 여러분을 복된 사람으로 만드실 것입니다.

A Prayer to Receive the Kingdom Lifestyle

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the Good News of your Kingdom that you send Jesus to the world.

You have given us a living hope in Jesus, our King.

I repent of living like I should be the center of my life just like the people in the world.

I acknowledge you are the King of your whole creation.

I have been so used to take over your place. It is going to be such a big change that I can't by my strength change it. I want to and choose you to be in the center of my life.

I surrender totally to you and repent my broken relationship with you because I took your Kingly poisition.

I ask for the blood of Jesus to redeem me and reconcile me with you. Start in me the healing of  my broken sinful life saturated by the power of rejection and pain.

Transform me with your Kingdom Structure so that I truly live with you in my center.

Help me follow King Jesus advancing the Kingdom from heaven to earth through the Holy Spirit in me.

Fill me with your Spirit and give me all the eyes I need to worship you in the center of the whole creation.

I want the true life that has you in the center of every relationship in my life.

Come King Jesus and live in me so that I can shine with you in the darkness of sin and sufferings.

Build up my faith in your Word, the seeds of the Kingdom everyday.

Help me sow your seed into another life so that we can grow as Kingdom Christians.

In King Jesus' name I pray. Amen!

- A prayer introduced by Rev. Koo-

The Risk of Love

In a world of smart phones, text messages, Facebook, and e-dating, many are creating virtual relationships which mask a person’s true identity in an attempt to protect themselves from the reality of real relationship. They want to avoid the possible heartache and pain that can occur when love is not reciprocated. Others fill their lives with work, recreation or entertainment in an attempt to avoid deep relationships. And yet, as we attempt to protect ourselves, we become less human, and wander farther from the Creator’s purpose for our lives which is to love both God and neighbor as ourselves.  

In his book The Four Loves, C.S. Lewis writes:

    To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket - safe, dark, motionless, airless – it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The alternative to tragedy, or at least to the risk of tragedy, is damnation. The only place outside Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers and perturbations of love is Hell.

    I believe that the most lawless and inordinate loves are less contrary to God’s will than a self-invited and self-protective lovelessness. It is like hiding the talent in a napkin and for much the same reason ‘I knew thee that thou wert a hard man.’  Christ did not teach and suffer that we might become, even in the natural loves, more careful of our own happiness. If a man is not uncalculating towards the earthly beloveds whom he has seen, he is none the more likely to be so towards God whom he has not. We shall draw nearer to God, not by trying to avoid the sufferings inherent in all loves, but by accepting them and offering them to Him; throwing away all defensive armour. If our hearts need to be broken, and if He chooses this as the way in which they should break, so be it.

As we look at the relationships in our own lives we might ask the following questions. Am I holding back my love toward God and others out of the fear of being wounded in the fray? If so, am I willing to begin to trust God with my life and open up the gateways to my heart so that I can both give and receive love as God intended me to do?

There is no fear in love,
but perfect love casts out fear.
For fear has to do with punishment,
and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.
We love because he first loved us.

I John 4:18-19 (ESV)

© 2012 C.S. Lewis Institute. “Reflections” is published monthly by the C.S. Lewis Institute.