Clean

December 20, 2025

After a couple weeks of snow and cold wind, it was time. The weather warmed up and it was time to give our car a nice wash. I looked for a nearby carwash, and when I lined up, there were already five cars in front of me. I guess everyone was thinking the same thing. I had to wait over 20 minutes for my turn to come, but I didn’t mind. It was worth the wait. When the car came out of the car wash, it looked so nice and clean. Even the girls were happy to see the clean car when I picked them up from school.

For the next couple of days, the weather warmed up and it rained afterwards (of course, it rains whenever I get a carwash, right?). I didn’t mind the rain. It felt good to see the rain wash up the salt on the roads and clear up the trail where I usually run. It was good to see the world get cleaned up. (Sejin was sad that a lot of snow disappeared.)

One of the best feelings is to take a hot shower after a long day of work. You feel clean and refreshed. Everything feels relaxed and sets a tone for just winding down. There’s something about cleaning that just makes one smile. I wonder if that’s what Naaman 

felt like after washing himself seven times in the Jordan River as he was instructed by God. It was more than a sense of cleaning, it was a moment of healing, restoration, and being saved.

1 John 1:9 promises us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” It clearly tells us how we can be cleansed because Jesus made that possible for us. The end of the year is a good time to prepare for the new year and start fresh. We should start with being cleansed by Jesus. May we all come to His presence and lay down all of our sins and burdens at His feet and be cleansed.

Light

December 13, 2025

I enjoy running in the winter, with the chilly air on my face and the white snow painted all over the trail. It's simply beautiful. However, there are downsides as well, with one of them being short daylight time. In the summer, I can get up very early, like 5 a.m., and it’s already bright enough for me to go out and feel safe, but that is not the case in the winter. I am limited to when I can be out and do my thing due to the lack of daylight time. In fact, in about a week, we will have the shortest amount of day time, and daylight time will start to increase again as Christmas approaches. 

I have been studying the seven churches in the book of Revelation this week, and in the message to the church in Thyratira, Jesus promises the church that when they overcome the challenges, “and I will give him the morning star.” Revelation 2:28. The Morning Star is unique because it appears in the coldest, darkest part of the night, just before dawn. It is the herald that the sun is about to rise. In Revelation 22:16, Jesus identifies Himself as the Morning Star. “I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.” Jesus also says in John 8:12 that He’s the Light of the world.

In the darkness of this world that we live in, I am glad that Jesus is our Light and our Morning Star, who promises us that we can live in His light. Just as Moses’ face was shining from his encounter with God, I pray that we will also be the “light of the world” (Matthew 5:14) and shine His love and glory in the new year of 2026.

Preparation

December 6, 2025

This week was cold. It’s that kind of weather where you want to stay home and be cozy in a blanket, and you don’t want to be outside. That did not stop me from going out to run. I have run in this type of weather and I know how to prepare myself for it. The key is in layering up properly. I also know that my body tends to exert heat when my heart rate goes up during the run. I don’t want to layer up too much, otherwise I will overheat myself.

After the prep, I set out for my run. With the wind, it was colder and I had to cover my face. I questioned myself for even being out on a day like this. But slowly, I felt my body heat rising, and I started to get in a rhythm and I felt comfortable. Soon, the cold air didn’t feel cold anymore, and everything just felt right. Halfway into the run, I found myself unzipping the top of my jacket to let some cool air regulate my temperature. By the end of the run, I was running hot. I know that it was a good run and I am glad I chose to leave the house for this beautiful run. Preparation was key.

I was reading 2 Timothy 3 the other evening, and Paul talks about the persecutions he had endured in verse 11. Then in verse 12, he says, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” Just like I can’t always run in ideal weather all the time as there are times of adverse circumstances, I know I need to be out there to fulfill my daily goal. In the same way, living for Christ is never easy. There is great joy in walking with Him, but in this world, it comes with a price: suffering. The Devil does not make it easy. But preparation is key. And Paul tells us about it: “But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” verses 14 and 15. The Word of God preps us in this world full of sin, and leads us to salvation in Jesus. May we be prepared as we await the second coming of Jesus and welcome the new year.