Have you ever felt like there was not enough time in the day to finish everything you needed to do?  Have you ever been overwhelmed with so many things on your task-list that at times you felt the best way to deal with life is do to nothing at all?  Have you ever said “I’m so busy” or “I’m too busy for [insert activity of secondary importance here]” to someone or even yourself?  Have you ever forced yourself to sleep by pure exhaustion of thinking about what you have to accomplish in the next day or week to come? 
I do.  When my Google calendar begins to look like a coloring book of a 2 year old boy and each days’ appointments and tasks looks like an encrypted message from a spy movie, sometimes I want to throw all electronic/communication devices out the window and travel back to the Stone Ages where things seemed so much… simpler.  I’m sure I’m not the only one but if I am, you can stop reading now.  But professionals, students, fathers, mothers, friends, volunteers, etc. know what I’m talking about.  We all come to a point where things get ridiculously busy or maybe you’re so used to busy-ness that all the above has become normal.  Summer time is one of those times for me; juggling preparations for youth Friday activities, Sunday school materials, young adult evenings, planning meetings, worship songs, sermons, counseling meetings, my personal studies and squeezing in family and friends… sometimes become daunting and joyless tasks.
But God brings us to a “wake up and smell the coffee” moment.  For me, that came in the most unexpected place, an episode of Duck Dynasty, a show that I never watch but happened to watch with a few friends.  The episode was about Mia, the daughter of one of the Robertson’s (star family of the show) who was going in for her fifth procedure for a cleft issue.  In efforts to rally around her to encourage and love her, her parents had decided to gather family for a time of food, fun, and fellowship (sound familiar?).  The evening seemed enjoyable except for the reality that this whole production was to bring some smiles and happiness to a young girl who had been dealing with a physical deformity all her life.  Can you imagine what her parents were feeling - the fear, anxiety, worry, and sorrow to have their precious child go through this?  Wow.  As the end of the event came to a close, Mia’s father invited her up to the stage.  Little Mia nervously took a note out of her pocket to read a letter to her friends and family that she had prepared in advance.  She thanked everyone for being there and began to share briefly with everyone her fears, struggles and other sentiments.  Her father and mother were at the brink of tears (as I’m sure many viewers were as well).  But what really struck me was the wisdom, faith, courage, and love that was displayed as she read her closing statement and I paraphrase, “My favorite verse is from Psalm 46, ‘Be still and know that I am God’ because I know He’s with me and will take care of me.”
Friends, there is no doubt in my mind of how busy you and I are and will be.  We all have responsibilities to undertake and will most likely be bombarded by the sinking feeling of “too busy”.   But we must remind ourselves in the midst of busy seasons and lives, to be still and know that God and Him alone is sovereign and supreme, He is worthy of our FULL attention in worship in EVERY moment of our lives, and invites us to love the people around us by giving and sharing our LIVES to one another in LOVE as He first loved us, which brings Him glory (1 John 4).  Let’s make room in our lives and hearts for the Spirit of God to truly move and work.  He is worthy of it.

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

From Pastor Keeyoung’s Heart
July 27, 2014

Some of you might have thought that my wife and I are expecting another child from the heading. Sorry if you thought that! On Thursday, God blessed my brother’s family with a beautiful daughter Sophia! What a great joy she brought to not only her parents but to everyone who have been praying for them. For the last couple years, my brother and his wife have been trying without any positive results but God gave them a special gift as they have been patiently waiting on God for His perfect timing. It was a fresh reminder of God’s goodness and faithfulness. Before the name “Sophia” was given to the baby, she was called “웃음” (means Laughter in Korean). It’s a great Korean tradition that I should’ve followed with my own kids because I used to refer the baby as “it” at times, especially when I didn’t know the gender. I really liked the name “laughter” because it reminded me of Isaac from the bible, the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham and Sara. I hope and pray that that Sophia will grow up to be a special child that brings much needed laughter and joy to this world that’s filled with anger and bitterness.
I believe I have never held an infant baby other than my own because I usually don’t feel comfortable and awkward holding an infant in my arms. However, it was different this time around because Sophia is my first niece. I was actually looking forward to seeing her born and holding her in my arms. I kept on thinking about how it would feel when I actually see her in person. It was indeed a different feeling than when I held Reina and Ryan for the first time when they were born. It was more of an overwhelming appreciation for such a special gift that the whole family was waiting for over the years. Looking back on how my own kids were born just as my wife and I have planned out, I definitely took God’s grace for granted for such amazing blessings in my life. Or maybe I was too young to comprehend the full spectrum of God’s blessings but now I do. My wife and I are truly blessed beyond measures to be able to raise two beautiful kids that God placed under our care.
This whole process of Sophia being born reminded me of two important lessons. First, I was reminded of “Pray Until Something Happens (P.U.S.H.)” slogan. God challenged my lack of faith and endurance when it comes to prayer and petition. I, too often, give up on praying for certain things because of delayed response or no answer from God. I need to learn from my parents’ generation where they held onto a tree and prayed until the tree was literally uprooted from the ground. What a determination and a pure desperation they had. Some people may call them fanatics but I just love and appreciate their hunger for God and want to be more like them. 
And secondly, I was reminded of the joy of a new life being born. It says in Luke 15:10 that there is a great rejoicing in heaven when a sinner repents and comes to know Jesus Christ. Just like the birth of Sophia brought so much joy to my family, the heaven rejoices over people being saved. And that’s what the body of Christ, the church family, needs to devote more of our time and resources. So instead of focusing so much on our needs and wants, we need to turn our attention what God wants to do through us. I am thoroughly convinced that we can find the joy in our lives, the ministries we serve in, and in our families if we partake in the Kingdom business of bringing people to Christ. I pray and hope that our will be a church that brings many new lives into the family of believers. 

From Pastor Brian’s Heart
July 20, 2014