The Eucharist

I am currently reading "Jesus Wants to Save Christians" and I am loving it. It gets better and better every chapter. Rob Bell uses the bible so much in his stories that it makes me hungry for more! In the chapters that I have been reading he talks about The Eucharist. He tells us that the Greek word for "Thankful" is from the verb eucharizomai-the Greek word eu, which means "well" or "good" and the word charizomai, which means "to grant or give." Which is where we get the English word Eucharist, the "good gift." He goes on describing the profound meaning of the Eucharist and how Jesus is the good gift and how we are also the good gift to the world.

He asks the question:
What does it look like for us to be a Eucharist for the people here and now? In other words what is the church supposed to look like? "What does it look like for us to break ourselves open and poor ourselves out for the healing of these people (the lost, the hungry, the angry, the rich, the poor) in this time and place?"
The Eucharist is people. The Eucharist is the church. We are the good gift.

I love this:
"Our destiny, our future, and our joy are in the Eucharist, using whatever blessing we've received, whatever resources, talents, skills, and passions God has given us, to make the world a better place. Disconnection from the suffering of the world, isolation from the cry of the oppressed, indifference to the poverty around us will always lead to despair." I don't ever want to be disconnected from my destiny. From the cry of those who are broken, fatherless, and hopeless. Because my life will mean nothing. It will lead to despair.

Because I know the truth that sets us free, I have gifts and talents that God has given me, and because I have the love of God in my heart, it is my destiny to be a Eucharist in my city, here, and now!

Because we were made for so much more!!!

Love you,
Jovy

Such a Beautiful Surrender

"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."
Psalms 37:4

It's crazy how truly mysterious God is. You can be a Christian your whole life, and still be amazed at His awesomeness. You can convince yourself that you know it all and yet we really know nothing. Oh how He loves us and cares about every detail of our lives. If only we could truly grasp how wide, long, high, and deep His love is for us. Everything, all the things of this Earth, would fade away.

My friends, I know that since we parted ways in May, the things of this Earth have hit us hard!!! Some with heartache, some with school, some with family, and some with economic hardships. But I just wanted to remind you of His Sovereignty. Our God is still the same God who spoke to you in your dreams. The same God who got you through senior paper. The same God who took you places you could've never imagined. The same God who held you in His arms those nights you cried "why God, why." The same God who showed you that you are His nurse and nobody else's. He is the God who was, and is, and is to come.

Remember my friends where you came from, where you are now, and where you are going is all because of His love for you.

"Surrender has somehow become so beautiful" -Mutemath

I love you,
Jovy

Slow Dancing

As I am going through one of the hardest times of my young adult life (transition from college to adulthood) I am so tempted to lose the faith. It is unbelievably harder than I thought it would be. But everyday a sweet sweet voice always reminds me of who He is and who I am.

I am currently listening to the amazing Phil Wickham. He puts me in the mood! :-) I want to slow dance with my first love, the lover of my soul, my beloved. That would be something!!!

Listen and fall in love with the maker.

I Don't Work for Free

"A Message from your Heart"

Don't break me, I bruise easily
The source of both your love and misery

I am steady, beating endlessly
While you are dozing, dreaming pretty things
Lovely things

I don't work for free
Please take care of me

This is a message from your heart
Your most devoted body part
Taking blood and making art
This is a message from your heart
Pounding away into the dark
You could thank me for a start
This is a message from your heart

Don't hurt me, I bleed constantly
My efforts leave me but flow back swiftly

My rhythm, soothing, like raindrops steady
On foggy windows when you gaze outwardly
Peacefully

I don't work for free
Please take care of me
Please take care of me

This is a message from your heart
Your most devoted body part
Taking blood and making art
This is a message from your heart
Pounding away into the dark
You could thank me for a start
This is a message from your heart

Everytime you sleep
Everytime you eat
Everytime you laugh
Everytime you cry
Every time you love

-Kina Grannis

Fly Away

I just wished upon a star tonight.

I wished that I could grow a pair of wings overnight so that when morning comes I could pack my things and fly back to my beloved China. Okay so I am dreaming. I sometimes, and lately now more than ever, wonder what the hell am I doing here?

God give me the grace to understand things that I cannot.

Give me the courage to change the things that I can

And the wisdom to know the difference.

I trust you.

I love you.

You are and will always be sovereign.

Love,

Jovy

VANGUARD

Okay so I'll admit that these past five years in college I have had no time to care about the things going on in this nation and in other parts of the world. I was consumed with textbooks, papers, friends, and laziness. Yes that is no excuse. Although I did read many articles and books that brought awareness to global events, and that I am proud of!

I recently found yet another TV series to get addicted to, but this one I don't feel as guilty. VANGUARD is a documentary series with no limits!!! It airs on Wednesdays 10/9c and it is AWESOME. It combines my love for traveling/culture/journalism into a fun, informative, captivating television show. My first episode was called Missionary of Hate and it made me so angry. Like the way God gets angry. I immediately got hooked. From what I've seen they seem to be unbiased, young, ambitious journalists inspired to tell the stories of past and current.

Click Here to check it out!

Love,

Jovy

Ps. Adam Yamaguchi..so my ideal Asian guy!!!

Wordless Wednesday

Finito!

I will proudly admit that the season 6 finale of LOST has made me a little emotional. It is one of the very few shows I have been faithful to (see I don't have commitment issues). The only sad thing about this epic moment in the history of prime television is that I have no body to share it with. Seriously why don't more people watch the most amazing television series ever made by man? I've always wondered that. If you are cool, funny, witty, then you are watching the last ever episode of LOST with me in spirit. I can feel your heart as it is both sad to say goodbye but excited to get some answers.

Here are some of my favorite LOST quotes that only cool, funny, witty, & faithful fans will appreciate!

"Come with me if you want to live" -John Locke

"We're the good guys Michael" -Ben

"Somebody's hooked on Phonics" -Sawyer

"Not Penny's boat" -Charlie

"Freckles! I got so many answers to your question, I wouldn't even know where to start." -Sawyer

"Shut up Red..neck...man." -Hurley"

"You all everybody...you all every body!!!" -Charlie

"You're not supposed to die, the island needs you!" -Hurley

Love,

Jovy

Update: 4.5 hours later the finale event is over. I am temped to stay up and watch Jimmy Kimmel live because they'll all be on it! Probably not a good idea! Oh I can't believe its done! 6 seasons and it's finally done! No more questions. The end was beautiful!!!!

WOK ATTACK!!!!

I feel oriental today!

I recently purchased this awesome wok from IKEA. Only $7.99. But do not underestimate its wok power based on that oh so cheap price.

One of my heart's desires was to cultivate the art of cooking whenever I got out of college and actually had a life. And today that journey began!! My cousin bought her sister and I a wok and pasta cookbook from IKEA and this week was my turn to try a wok recipe.

Anything Asian excites me and anything creative ignites my heart. Okay a little dramatic, but seriously I think I will really enjoy my new found passion for cooking, especially Asian food. Today I worked up the courage to try my first recipe, "Beef with Spinach and Mango." It was a simple recipe and my parents weren't interested in the other ones I had in mind. I will soon make them try it all and they will love it! Instead of beef I used pork loin. I'm not much of a beef or pork eater, but pork loin is fast and perfect for this recipe. When cooking in a wok the actual cooking time is a lot faster than the preparation. I was scared at how fast it took to cook. I literally was holding my breath. Cooking in a wok is exhilarating. The sounds, the smells, and the smoke rising from the wok gave me an adrenalin rush. Mostly because I didn't expect it to cook so fast. The finished product was delectable. The mangoes, though you would never think, made it taste fabulous!

Here is the recipe for those of you who are brave enough to cook in a wok. Ha, it's really not that bad. It's actually quite simple. "The worldwide success of cooking with a wok is based on a convincingly simple concept: fresh ingredients, short cooking times and aromatic spices. Whether vegetarian, poultry, meat, fish or seafood-uncomplicated and delicious dishes can be created within minutes using a wok. (I) would like to introduce you to this fascinating equipment that has become the epitome of healthy cooking" -my wok cook book

Ingredients:

1lb of beef (or whatever meat you'd like)

7 oz of leaf spinach

1 ripe mango

2 mild green chilies (I used red and green bell peppers instead)

2 tbsp of soy sauce

3 tbsp of veg. oil

3 tbsp of sweet and sour sauce (ready made)

2 tbsp of oyster sauce (I didn't use this-yuck!!)

1/2 bunch of Thai basil (its to make it pretty, so basically unnecessary)

I also made noodles on the side.

It's as easy as 1,2, 3:

1:Cut the meat into strips. Rinse the spinach, dry and cut roughly. Peel the mango and cut into diamond shapes. Wash the chilies (or bell peppers) and chop.

2: Heat the oil in a wok, sear the spinach and chopped chilies (meaning move around the ingredients quickly for about 1-2 minutes) and remove. Use the same oil for frying the meat on high heat. Pour in the soy and oyster sauce.

3: Add the mango pieces to the meat. Finally, return the spinach and peppers and mix with meat. Season to taste with sweet and sour sauce. Serve sprinkled with some Thai basil leaves.

Serving size: 4

I hope I inspired you to venture into the world of cooking with a wok. Those Asians are freakin' smart!!!

My next Asian dish that I will attempt to make so reminds me of one of my favorite dishes from Qingyundian, China:

Sweet Garlic Eggplants!!! MMMMmmm

Stay tuned for more adventures in the kitchen!

Love, Jovy

Get Over It!!!

Just posting a blog to verbally spank myself and to remind myself that my life is not my own anymore.

Love,

Jovy

Ps. Thanks Carrie

My Love

For the plans I have for you are good. The life that so many dream, but never attain, you will live. Because you understand the cost and worth of the cross. You understand what it means to walk down the narrow road.

So let go.

Let go of everything you've held on to. Right now in this season, letting go is vital if you want what I have for you, you must let go and trust that I love you.

I love you with an unfailing love. I know that you cannot fathom it, but you can feel it. It guides you, disciplines you, comforts you, and gives you joy. My love, the narrow road will become much harder as you begin this new journey. But know that

I am with you,

I am mighty to save,

I take great delight in you,

I will quiet you with my love,

I rejoice over you with singing,

and My grace is all you need.

With steadfast love,

Your beloved

Almost Wordless Saturday

I wanted to take the time and say that I am so blessed to have such a loving, beautiful, inspiring, supportive mother!! I love you Mami!

Happy Mother's Day!

Sorry fellow bloggers for the incorrect usage of Wordless Wednesday. This blog isn't wordless and it isn't Wednesday. :-)

I heart Train

I love discovering new artists. Although Train has been around for a while now, I honestly have not had time to care about music. That makes me sad. But now I have sooooo much time on my hands. It's exciting. I love discovering new, old, and different music. My old friend Willie gave me a new found appreciation for music several years ago. I think he has over a million songs on his iTunes. Probably exaggerating but almost.

Back to Train. I seriously have listened to ALL of their songs these past 5 days of being a post-grad. They are AWESOME. And I already have 3 favorites!!

Favorite #1: "Hey Soul Sister"

Favorite #2: "Marry Me"

Favorite #3: "Brick by Brick"

Enjoy!

Love, Jovy

"Yatta!!!!!"

<--- (Hiro Nakamura from HEROES)

For “not to change, to stay on the path of slow death, is…hell. The difference is that the hell of deep change is the hero’s journey. The Journey puts us on a path of exhilaration, growth, and progress. The hero finds strength, power, vitality, and energy in change. In experiencing deep change, our selfishness dies." -Crosby (an actually useful textbook from Patterns of Leadership in Nursing!)

A young, immature, and naive 18 year old once took a leap of faith. She left her home and everything she had known to go on a journey. Where that journey would take her, she had no idea! The only thing she knew, was that this journey was important and vital to the call placed on her heart. This journey would require deep change. A metamorphosis! And it would not be easy. Who wants to live in Tulsa, OK with strange people? I mean it's in the middle of nowhere! Who wants to leave all the comforts of home and culture? Who wants to be molded, stretched, and lonely? But, Oh the places this journey took her on and Oh, the woman she has become!

Five years! Five years of deep change. And it was so worth it! I am now officially an ORU alumni!! It is my third day as a post-grad. So far it's still scary. I mean who wants to grow up? :-) Who wants to say goodbye to irreplaceable friends? Who wants to have a full-time job that you may not be happy with. Who wants bills and more bills? I've so far cleaned out everything in my room, moved things around in my room, bought paint for my room, have an interview on Thursday, studied for NCLEX, got to see my lovely friend Michael, shopped, spent time with my dad, and haven't had much sleep. All to keep myself busy (minus the spending time with my friend and my parents).

But I am reminded that I am on a different journey now. Yes it will be nothing like the one that ended three days ago, but it will be good. I know it will! This journey will continue to change me. I will discover new things about myself, God, love, and life! The sky is my limit!! That is exciting!!!! That is what makes the hero's journey exhilarating. Knowing that in a few years I could end up anywhere; home, back to China, married, a mother, a nurse practitioner, a student again!! What an adventure I am on!!

But this journey will require once again, deep change. And like I experienced in the last 5 years, it will not be easy. The beginning is always hard. But I know someone who is always with me, guiding me, and loving me.

In Him, I put my trust.

Love,

Jovy

Skirt and Chacos

So I love eavesdropping! Especially with my BFF for life, Mel.

One thing that I can say I will truly miss about the Green Country (aka Tulsa, Ok) are its awesome coffee shops. One in particular Shades of Brown will always carry with me memories of countless studying (one day we were there for approximately 10 hours), fun study breaks (my nose ring), really good vanilla chai tea lattes, and definitely its variety of interesting people and their interesting conversations.

The other day I was enjoying a night of studying with Kimi, Justin, and Mel. We were sitting awkwardly close to a table with two love seats where two men were having an interesting conversation. Oh no! Distraction! Mel and I love eavesdropping and analyzing people and their conversations. I'd like to say that this is a good trait. We are people persons right??

Here goes the hilarious conversation and chain of events.

-Mel and I attempting to study.

-Two college-aged white guys sit down in the love seats.

-Guy #1 begins conversation of how his EX hurt him.

-Mel and I look at each other, the note passing and quiet laughter begins

(Apparently Guy #1 was cheated on and will be seeing her the next day and Guy #2 was his loyal Christian friend giving him sound advice).

Here is my favorite part of the conversation:

Guy #2: So how do you think you'll feel when you see her? Do you think you'll get back with her?

Guy #1 (in a what seems to be hopeless and serious tone of voice) Ugh She's smart. I KNOW she's gonna wear my favorite outfit. She's gonna wear her skirt and Chacos. Ughhh She's gorgeous. I love that outfit! I KNOW she's gonna wear it!!

-I write Mel a note "What are Chacos? I want some!!!!!"

-Mel replies "I know. I'm gonna google Chacos!"

-Mel shows me what they are:

-We almost DIED laughing!!

I was expecting some really cute high heels! But no, this guy gets turned on by the most hideous shoes that are meant for hiking and nature stuff! haha!!! A friend suggested we should have intervened and told the guy to stop being a pansy, the girl cheated on you and wears hideous shoes! Maybe we should have!

Oh man I will forever remember his expression of how much he loved the "skirt and Chacos" Single ladies it is all about the skirt and Chacos!!!

Jovy

Ps. For women who own a pair, in no way do I think that you shouldn't wear them. I just don't think a guy should be turned on by them. They are meant for hiking. If you have a pair for comfort and hiking...I am so not opposing that!!

I own a pair of sandal crocs for shower shoes!!

The Lord Will Receive Me

"Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me" Psalms 27

I am amazed at the resilience and joy these little ones have. Despite being abandoned and special needs, because of the love New Day so freely gives and God working through them, these children overcome so many obstacles. Even though Tristan did not get to have a forever family and live many years, he spent almost 2 years with a loving family at New Day. Who could ask for anything better than more than one mom, more than one dad, a grandpa, an uncle, a dog, a goat, lots of food, lots of fun, and lots of ayi's!!!

Please continue praying for the New Day Foster Home staff in China. (Photo from NDFH blog)

Love,

Jovy

Wo ai...

The beginning of love is to let those we love be perfectly themselves, and not to twist them to fit our own image. Otherwise we love only the reflection of ourselves that we find in them." Thomas Merto

I need to work on this!

Happy Love Day!!!!

The One Whom My Soul Loves...

Can I be transparent with you?

Perhaps I am feeling this way because a certain holiday is coming up. But, honestly I have been wanting to put these feelings into words for months now. But, I'll blame it on the holiday! :-) Writing this on a public blog is not easy for me. But I find strength when my thoughts are out there, because they have been hidden inside of me for a while now. You see, for almost 23 years now, it has been God and I. I've been shaped and molded, torn apart, and put back together. I've had the most amazing college experience any one could ask for. Fell in love with a country that was once foreign to me. Found life and more life. Met amazing people and have some of the most amazing friends! My family is doing well. All is well with my soul.

But I long for this one thing. This one thing that I have unintentionally ignored for years. This one thing that I have yet to find, but at least I attempted to more than once. I so desire to find it. Or for it to find me. I do not care how it happens. All I know is that I am ready for it. And when it comes I will give my all to it. Like I always do. I'll trust in it. I'll believe in it. I'll be patient with it.

I think I didn't realize how ready I was until I almost had it.

This thing my heart longs to find is love and it is somewhere out there. Waiting for me. And this man who is waiting, He too desires to find a love like the one I desire. He is ready. Ready to risk everything. Ready to be about us. He is not perfect, but willing. Willing to love me, to be what I need him to be, willing to go wherever God wants us to go. He is ready to receive all the love I have to give and let it grow. Grow like the metamorphosis of a butterfly. From the inside out. And one day it will soar to such great heights. He too wants to be about something greater than the two of us.

Perhaps I know this man already, but time has never been our good friend. But, maybe I have never met him. Maybe he will be a beautiful surprise. When I least expect it. But I fear time will never be our good friend or I will never meet this man. All I can do is wait and trust.

And one day, I will get to say that I have found the one whom my soul loves.

Oh the day!

Love, Jovy

With secrets and guestures and looks...sonnets and second-hand books.

I am in love with this song. And one day I will dance to it. On that special day, with that special man! I found this random guy who did a cover to it. Loved it and wanted to post it (in case he becomes famous!)

The song is called "The Thief" and it is by Brooke Fraser (one of my favorite singers from New Zealand). Enjoy!

And this is the cover:

A trip down Memory Lane!

Okay so I have learned something about myself. If I am really bored, or really procrastinating, I will sign in to my Myspace!! I hate Myspace! Too much sex offenders and weirdos trying to add me as a friend! (okay so they are probably normal people, but I don't know them!) But just for the heck of it I like to see if people have written on my wall every couple of months. Nobody important has so I started to look at my pictures (which is the only reason why I haven't deleted my Myspace. Is it correct grammar if I say, I haven't deleted myspace? It sounds funny...my Myspace).Well I definably took a ride down memory lane today. I think it was more emotional because of the fact that I will be leaving ORU where I have spent the last 5 years of my life. It's sad to think that this place will soon be a memory. Here are some of my Myspace pictures that I will soon put all in a cd so that I can delete my useless Myspace account!!!

My freshman year! 2005! It was my birthday and thats Jeanine..love her!

My first trip to China! 2006! On the great wall!

My sophmore year! 2007! Moriah Banquet!

Mutemath with Mel and Kimi and random people

Fall 2007 (my first jr year)!

I got to celebrate my 21st twice! Once at ORU at an amazing dance party at Jeremy's with Mel and the other at home with all my lovely Orlando people!!! It was the best. Couldn't have asked for anything better!!!! Fall 2007!

One day we had an ice storm fall of 2007. Look how magical the trees and bushes looked!

Love, Jovy

Life and more LIfe..

My day started at 5 a.m. on this lovely Thursday morning.

I had serious insomnia last night and thankfully woke up (though, like always, I had the irrational thought "it's okay you don't have to go to clinical! Sleeeppp). I woke up this morning yearning to reflect on things. Weird because usually I am in SUCH a bad mood this early. So with the spare 10 minutes I had, I wrote in my journal and opened the Bible. I'm not much of a memorizing bible verse person, but this verse has become, I guess you can say, my philosophy of life. This is what Matthew. 7:13 says:

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, but only a few find it.

If you have grown up in church like I have, unfortunately this verse has been played down way too much. Few churches teach the significance of this verse and what it should mean to us. It wasn't meant to be read and think "oh that's nice" then go about your day.This verse encourages us to find that life that He so desires for us to attain. Our "promised land." This is the key to knowing how to LIVE life versus just getting through it.I have met people who chose to walk down the narrow road, and there is something different about the way they live their life. They LIVE life the way we were suppose to experience it. I yet have words to describe what that means. But I too want that. I am striving to walk down the narrow road. Even though I may rear off to the side at times, I get back on it. No matter how painful, confusing, lonely, and exhausting it may seem at times. I see that it is so worth it. I have discovered life and more life.

How do you "find" life? I encourage you to reflect on what walking down the narrow road looks like for you. Trust me it will be worth it.

So worth it!

Love, Jovy

Two roads diverged in a wood,

and I- I took the one less traveled by,

and that has made all the difference.

-Robert Frost

I See You...

(Me and my 3D Avatar shades! If I were a gamer I would so buy the video game, but thankfully I am not!)---->

I feel inspired! I love when I see God in things that aren't labeled "Christian." Can I just say that AVATAR is probably one of the best movies EVER made by man! I absolutely fell in love with it. I can't say that about many movies. 5 stars from this movie critic!

AVATAR reminded me of Missions & Culture with good ole Dr. Smith! Many ORU'ers can agree with me that every time you entered into that man's class you never knew what to expect. He either loved you that day, or thought you all were idiots and didn't have a heart for missions (then he'd cancel the class and make you cry, but still gave a final and you'd still get an A! Oh Mel that was funny!) But, I understood where he was coming from, well sort of! His life was missions. It wasn't some 2 week trip with 20 college-aged Jesus freaks ready to save Africa! He lived and breathed missions. He understood what so many Christians have failed to see when bringing the Gospel to another country and even to your neighbor. You must go with your cup empty. So many of us go with our cups full.

It reminded me of the day Dr. Smith brought in a TV and videotape player on one of those cart stand thing with wheels they used in high school. As we watched an episode from Star Trek, I wondered has this man gone insane? It was a question I often asked in his class. But I was intrigued because I respected him and wanted to learn from him. There was a message from this episode of Star Trek that somehow related to missions and culture that he wanted us to grasp. The episode ended and I understood. It was beautiful! It changed the way I viewed missions and Christianity as a whole.

The mission of Spak was to go and communicate with another people in the middle of a civil war in a language not understood by him or any of the crew members. It taught us that learning a people and their culture is vital. So many Christians get so caught up in the mentality that we are somehow "better" than them because we are Americans who know and serve a mighty God and they are poor and do not know God. We do not say it out loud and yes a lot of us have good intentions and pure hearts. But so many of us fail to understand that we must go with our cups empty. How can a person trust us when we do not know them. We don't know their story, how they speak, how they think, why they do what they do. I learned that it is so important to learn the culture and learn our neighbor before asking if they are "saved!" It was a good lesson learned. I will forever remember Dr. Smith and what he wanted to teach us through his class.

I was reminded of the passion for learning other cultures I gained that semester. My dream is to some day live among another people. Go with my cup empty. Learn their ways. And somehow God will reveal himself through the relationships and time spent learning them. To me there is nothing more beautiful then two different people realizing that they are the same. It makes this whole creation story real. It shows that we are all made in His image!

It makes me feel small and God big!

We truly live in a beautiful, yet hurting world.

Love, Jovy

Ps. If you haven't seen AVATAR...go! Go now!