PRAYER

May 23, 2026

Last night while I was doing some work, there was an internet outage in my area. The page I was on the computer stopped working and the next thing I looked at was my modem and router. The red light was flashing to tell me that indeed the internet wasn’t working in the house. I turned off the WiFi mode on my phone to go on to cellular data mode. Immediately I got an email from my internet provider that there was an outage and that they will get it fixed as soon as possible. I had to tether my computer to the phone to continue working.

Internet is one big way to connect to the world and we are so used to it. Without it, the convenience of communication goes away and it tends to bother us. The next morning when I got up, I got a notification that the internet was restored, but it still didn’t work. I had to reboot the modem and the router, and, thankfully, all things came back to functioning again. Now I can connect to the world again.

I know that’s an exaggeration, we can still communicate with the world even without the internet. As I was thinking about this, I thought about prayer. “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” 1 John 5:14. Unlike the internet, our access to God via prayer NEVER disconnects. Whenever we pray, God will hear us (according to His will). This is a promise and truth that will bring us comfort, knowing that He is there for us no matter what. Therefore, let us “pray without ceasing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17.

SMALL BUT IMPORTANT

May 16, 2026

There are plenty of ways to improve your swim, bike and run performance. They are small, but important, changes. When you swim, the angle of your head can create drag in the water. We are supposed to look straight down, but a lot of the time we think we’re looking down when we are actually looking ahead. In this case, you simply need to lower your chin just a little bit more. When you stretch out your arm for your swim stroke, the arms need to be straight. In our head, we think they are straight, but in reality, many of us cross our arms. Instead, you need to imagine your arm to be in a V-shape.

When it comes to bikes, our shoulders easily become tense, causing the ride to be less effective. We should loosen up and relax on the ride. We only think of pushing feet down when pedaling, but we should also focus on pulling feet up to draw a nice circle (this only works with bike shoes that are attached to the pedal). Simple, but important changes.

There are small changes you can make while running as well. Your stride may be too long. Shorten your stride, and find the right cadence (the number of steps you make in one minute). Be watchful of your head position. This will help with the body balance for efficient running.

These are all small but important changes to help you improve. It’s not easy to make these changes unless you acknowledge them and are willing to change. The same goes for our lifestyle and attitude in life. I am sure we all have something in our life that can be a drag in walking with Jesus. When we learn to make these acknowledgements and learn to make small changes for the better, there will be great joy and much happiness with Jesus. “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” James 4:10.

DELIBERATE

May 9, 2026

Yesterday, my wife and I went to Meijer to buy some grocery items. We found everything we needed, including avocados. We got back home and when we unpacked the bag, Hyemi asked, “Where are the avocados?” “They are in the plastic bag,” I replied. Well, Hyemi came home with a paper bag. It turns out, when we were at the self check out, I put the two avocados in the plastic bag, which Hyemi didn’t see, and she put the rest in the paper bag. We left the avocados there.

I called the store immediately, and told them what we did. The store rep calmly told me that it was no problem and that I could come back to get what I had left. Clearly, this must happen quite often at the grocery stores. One might say, it’s just a couple of avocados. It would cost more gas and my time to go back to grab them. But, I wanted my avocados. So the following morning, I stopped by Meijer after dropping off my girls at school to pick up my avocados. It was deliberate action on my end.

“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?” Luke 15:4. It’s only one sheep out of a 100, one might say. Or it would be risky and dangerous for the shepherd to go find that one sheep, others might say. But, the Shepherd always goes back for that one sheep. Deliberate and determined. That is our Jesus, who always comes back for us.