Everyday Speaking English

Friday: The Day of Suffering (Good Friday)

* The Journey: The betrayal, the trial, the scourging, and the crucifixion. Jesus dies on the cross, crying out, "It is finished."

* Living as a Believer: Meditate on the cost of your salvation. This is a day of mourning, but also of deep gratitude for the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ.

* Action: Observe a time of silence between 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM (the hours Jesus hung on the cross).
Reflect on Isaiah 53.

🌿 Today’s Meditation – Romans 8:28

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”

This verse does not mean that everything is good.

There is pain, failure, and things we do not understand.

But God promises that He can bring all these things together for good.

There is also a condition:
✔ Those who love God
✔ Those who are called according to His purpose

This means that for those who trust and love Him,
God is working behind the scenes, even when we cannot see it.

Are you facing something you do not understand right now?

It may look like scattered puzzle pieces,
but in God’s hands, the picture is already coming together.

Today, let us confess:

“Lord, I may not understand everything right now,
but I trust that You are working for good.

Please use every part of my life to accomplish Your good purpose. Amen.” 🙏

The Attitude of the Believer During Lent! 💒

Having understood the theological significance of Lent, we must now make concrete changes in our daily lives.

I propose four practical attitudes for believers to adopt during this season.

Deepening the Word and Prayer:

Beyond simply reading the Bible, Lent requires time to deeply meditate on the Passion narratives in the Gospels.

We must continue the spiritual discipline of quieting our inner turmoil by going into our rooms at designated times to listen to God's subtle voice.

Fasting and Abstinence in the Modern Sense:

While traditional food fasting is significant, today's world calls for a "media fast," which distracts our souls.

We must resolve to reduce smartphone, social media, and OTT viewing, and fill that time with communion with God or silence.

Practicing Love and Sharing:

Piety should not be confined to internal cultivation but should flow into love for our neighbors.

The true spirit of Lent is to use the time and money saved through abstinence to help the marginalized, the sick, and the suffering.

As the verse says, "This is the fast I choose: it looses the bonds of wickedness..." (Isaiah 58:6), we must practice justice and love.

Restoring the Center of Worship:

Lent is a time to rebuild the broken altar of worship.

We must strive to live as Christians every moment, not just during Sunday worship, but so that our weekday lives themselves become holy, living sacrifices pleasing to God.
🌈

Learning new things is fun! 🥰🫠🤗

Learning new things is important even as you age.
If you don't learn, your brain function can decline, your memory can weaken, and your risk of dementia can increase.

However, if you continue to learn, you can keep your brain healthy!

Problems that arise when you don't learn! 😅

Brain function declines – Your brain becomes duller without new challenges.

Memory and concentration decline – You become more likely to forget medications or where you put things.

Increased risk of dementia – People with a learning habit have a lower risk of dementia.

Decreased enjoyment of life – Learning new things increases your sense of accomplishment and joy.

Easy Ways to Get Started! 🥰

Daily small challenges – Take a walk along a new path, read a different book.

Take up a new hobby – Learn something you're interested in, like painting, a musical instrument, or cooking.

Learn digital devices – Use your smartphone, YouTube, or KakaoTalk.

Learn together – Participate in programs at cultural centers or community centers.

Age is just a number! 😍

Start today and learn something, even if it's just a small thing.

As you accumulate learning, your brain becomes younger and you can maintain a healthy life. 💖

What will we learn today? 🤗