May 15, 2020

By Patty Kamahele, Administrative Assistant

I remember it like it was yesterday, although it happened many years ago. I woke up to the ringing of the phone in the condo I shared with my roommate. “Why isn’t she answering?” I thought. “The phone is right next to her bed.”

I went into her room and found that she wasn’t moving. “Cherie!!” I cried out. I then ran to our neighbor who went in and confirmed my worst fears. She had passed away in her sleep. What?! This young, healthy, vibrant 25-year-old was gone? There are no words to express my sorrow at losing my closest friend. 

No one could answer the “Why?” and so I clung to the One who would meet me in my pain––Jesus. I knew Cherie was with Him. I used to talk to her about the Lord and even brought her to church. One morning, a few months before her passing, she came to me and said, “I asked Jesus into my heart last night.” We both cried tears of joy. 

During the months that followed her passing, I realized that I could either pull away from the Lord with bitterness, or cling to Him with hope. Although sometimes difficult, I chose the latter. I used to drive up to the park at the top of a mountain where I lived. I would bring my Bible and spend time with the Lord. And although I was there by myself, I was not alone. I could sense His presence. It was my place of hope, comfort, and peace. 

Do you have that place where you meet alone with God? That place of refuge? That shelter during difficult times, like this COVID pandemic? He wants to minister to us, no matter the location. He wants to use His Word to speak to our hearts about Who He is. He desires to spend time with us. Our presence brings Him joy, no matter what state our hearts are in.

“Then He [Jesus] went up on a mountain where He could be alone and pray...” (Matthew 14:23)

May we all be encouraged to follow our Lord’s example. And in so doing, we will never be the same. He is there for us. Always.

Lord, we come to You just as we are. Help us to draw near to You whether our hearts are hurting or they are filled with joy; in the good times and in the bad. That You would want to spend time with us is amazing and blesses our hearts. Please assure us that even in “alone” times, we are never alone. Thank You for loving us. Thank You for caring for us. Thank You for always being there for us. In the Name that is above all names, Jesus. Amen.

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May 14, 2020

By David Chang, Director of Ministry Support

I was on my bike, pedaling as fast as I could. The next thing I knew I was on the ground, trying to catch my breath. A police car had pulled over a speeding car in front of me, and I didn’t have enough time to stop. Thank God that I got away with just a broken collarbone.

It’s been a difficult last few weeks. Dealing with the pain and not being able to use my right arm has been a struggle. Using chopsticks got quite messy . No more exercising, only walking. I’m grateful to a good friend who gave me Scriptures to listen to and contemplate on. Walking is good for contemplation!

The very first Bible passage I listened to was from Psalms 131:

1 Lord, my heart is not proud;
my eyes are not haughty.
I do not get involved with things
too great or too wondrous for me.
2 Instead, I have calmed and quieted my soul
like a weaned child with its mother;
my soul is like a weaned child.

3 Israel, put your hope in the Lord,
both now and forever. (Christian Standard Bible)

At first, I focused on verse 2. I imagined holding my 2-year-old granddaughter Dara. There have been times when she had been particularly fussy, having a difficult time settling down for a nap. I would pick her up and take her for a walk in the garden. She would eventually quiet down and fall asleep. I tried imagining myself being carried by the Heavenly Father. I wanted to be content and satisfied just like Dara.

But I can’t. My shoulder is hurting. I ask God to take the pain away. But He didn’t. I tell God that I won’t be content and satisfied till this pain goes away.

But God must want me to be content.

I see the problem now––I missed the first verse of Psalm 131, the one that I skipped. I’m doing exactly the opposite of what it says.

My heart is proud.

My eyes are haughty.

I think I know better than God.

No wonder I’m not content! I shift my prayer from asking God to remove my pain to humbling my heart. I ask God to help me to trust rather than complain.

I found myself slowly settling into my Heavenly Father’s arms. My shoulder is still sore, but I’m beginning to understand that being in God’s arms with a sore shoulder is better than being somewhere else with no pain.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help all of us to stop squirming in Your arms. Help us to be humble and trust You. Help our soul to be content with nothing but You. In Jesus name, Amen.

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May 13, 2020

by Gary Toh, Director of Prayer Ministry

“Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16)

During this COVID season, First Prez staff members are paired up every week to pray for each other. These prayer times have been a tremendous blessing for me for receiving prayer as well as praying for the needs of my colleagues.

Mark 2:1-5 tell us about four men who went through great lengths to bring a paralyzed friend to Jesus so Jesus could heal him. In the same way, we can take our prayers for our friends to Jesus.

We live life in community and we need each other. To be honest, sometimes we are so busy that we lose sight of the importance of prayer. As the saying goes, “If you’re too busy to pray, you’re too busy!” I find myself using busyness as an excuse for not praying especially when I get "busy" with my work in ministry. As a result, I have to keep reminding myself that “busyness does not equal spirituality.”

We need to set time aside for prayer as a daily spiritual discipline. I find praying for a friend helps me to pause, slow down, and heal.  "Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed." (James 5:16a)

We can never underestimate the importance and power of praying for one another. Prayer is powerful, effective, and healing. Ephesians 6:18 teaches us to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.”

Who wants to join me in prayer? 

Prayer: Lord, You hear my prayers and You hear Your children's prayers. I lift up my fellow brothers and sisters in prayer. Lead and guide me as I follow you today and every day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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May 12, 2020

By Nora Cunning, Pastoral and Media Support

This week is supposed to be my college graduation. I worked hard. I am valedictorian of my class and I’m the student body president. I was invited to give a speech, and my mother was coming from California to attend. I was so proud to show her, and my husband and our daughters my accomplishments! But, unfortunately, the physical graduation is not going to happen now due to COVID. 

The President of the University asked me to participate in a virtual pre-recorded version of our graduation, where he and I and a few other faculty members would give short congratulatory speeches to the graduates. While this is a great honor, as I will be the only student participating, I have to admit that in my grief I wanted to say no. What’s worse is that when I went to respond to the invitation where they were asking me for ideas, I actually broke down and wept. 

You see, this has happened quite often in my life when it comes to accomplishments and acknowledgements. I accomplish or achieve something big, but loved ones weren’t able to witness it or experience it with me for various reasons. The collective disappointment often weighs me down, but at the same time it has also driven me to continue giving my best in all that I do.

Each week on staff we are paired with a staff member to pray for. This week my partner is Pastor Steve Peich, the pastor I support as an admin, so we are pretty good friends. I always treasure his wisdom and insight into ministry, and I feel very blessed to work alongside him as I am discovering my own calling in ministry.

Steve called me to ask how I was doing and how he could pray for me. I don’t know if you know this, but when Steve asks, “How are you doing” and you aren’t doing okay, you sort of just unload on him. It’s because when he asks, he truly wants to know. I think it is quite possibly his gift, so I did just that. 

I think the reason I wanted to say “no” to being a part of the virtual graduation is that deep down inside I feel worthless in spite of my accomplishments, a feeling that’s absolutely from the enemy. I was feeling that if I am not going to have the physical graduation, then I might as well just move on.

One of the things I truly praise the Lord for is the Father that He is to us, and the fathers He produces for us. God continues to place godly men in my life to remind me of the things a girl who was raised without a committed father needs to hear––– that my accomplishments are worth celebrating; that it is okay to desire recognition; that God created as a person of worth and value, and that my accomplishments are worth celebrating. Unbeknownst to him, Steve stepped in to help me see that. He encouraged me to celebrate with family on the day of the broadcast, and I plan to do just that.

As Christians we are born again into a new family. Our Father provides for our every need. He surrounds us with new family members who affirm us in our new identities in Him. He recognizes our accomplishments and celebrates us every day. We are worth so much to Him. 

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:4-9)

This week let’s celebrate every graduate in some way, whether it be a Zoom party or a phone call. Let’s show them that their accomplishments, and simply who they are, are totally worth celebrating, physically or virtually.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for making me worthy. Thank you for the family I have in you and for always surrounding me with that family when I need it. I pray every graduate would feel accomplished and celebrated on graduation day . I pray that loved ones would celebrate them and make them feel special and that they would know You are well pleased with them and their accomplishments.

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May 11, 2020

By Julie Lockyer, Events Scheduler and Receptionist

The other day I was outside with my 10-month-old granddaughter Harley Rose. She can walk now and loves to go outside in the yard and explore everything. When she first started walking and was unsteady on her feet, she would hold my hand and make sure I was there with her. As she became surer of herself and got familiar with her surroundings, she stopped holding on to me and started going off on her own. Now she even pushes my hand away as she discovers her new found freedom. She’s so enticed by all the things around her that she even forgets I am around.

Sounds familiar? 

As adults we sometimes let go of Jesus to go off and do our own thing. I love my granddaughter with all my heart and I make sure I’m always close by and that she doesn’t get hurt or wander off too far. When she’s done exploring, she remembers grandma is there for her, and so I open my arms and she runs to me. I pick her up and give her the biggest hug. 

The good news is that’s how our God is too. He loves us so much that He never leaves us no matter what we’ve done. He is always there waiting for us to come back into His arms. Luke 15:20 reminds us of this:“So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.”

When you start feeling anxious or fearful, run into God’s arms. Close your eyes and feel His loving arms around you, holding you close. Remember that He loves you! 

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)

 Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for reminding us that during this time we can come to You and rest in Your arms. Help us to find peace and do not let us be anxious or fearful. Thank You for always watching over us even if we have wandered away or have become complacent in our lives. Help us to stay strong in Your word and to always trust in You. Amen.

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May 8, 2020

By Jenny Sung, Executive Coordinator

One of the biggest blessings of sheltering in place has been reconnecting with family. Since the onset of COVID-19, we’ve made the extra effort to Zoom one another and have virtual family gatherings (even with a six-hour time zone difference).

One Friday my sister on the East Coast texted that we’ll be having a Family Talent Show, since so many of us enjoy singing, drawing, painting, and dancing. We took turns displaying art, singing, playing piano, and doing TikTok dances. My sister even made a rose out of tissue paper, and we all applauded with “oohs” and “ahhs.” It was wonderful to encourage and build up one another, rejoicing just in this small way and cherishing the blessing of connection.

It is especially important to build up one another during this time. First Prez’s digital connect groups on Sunday mornings have been so encouraging as we get to see one another, share insights, pray, and encourage each other every week.

This is what we are called to do––to share God’s love, peace and joy, to encourage each other and be His salt and light in the world, even as calamity and struggle weigh heavily on us all. There are many who are going out to areas of need, distributing food, delivering groceries, tending to the sick, protecting our communities, and more. Words cannot capture the gratitude for all those who are sacrificing for the good of all. So even more, let us cherish one another, encouraging and building up each other in big and small ways.

I leave you this verse from the apostle Paul’s first letter to the church in Thessalonica. He encouraged them to stand firm and maintain love for one another:

“And we urge you, beloved, to admonish the idlers, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them. See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:14)

Prayer: Dear Lord, may we rejoice in You in all circumstances, always giving thanks for the ways You work in and through all things. Use us to be Your hands and feet to bring encouragement and hope to the world. In Jesus name we pray, Amen

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May 7, 2020

By Roslyn Catracchia, Director of Worship and Congregational Life

Recently, Shayna Kusumoto wrote a meaningful devotional entitled, “I Can’t, But God Can” (April 25). She wrote about the first days we were learning how to do church services online. She mentioned all of us on staff trying new things and the steep learning curve we each had to experience. Week after week, we are still trying something new, trying to “walk on water” and failing at times.

Week after week, I call out to God, who stretches His endlessly strong and mighty hand to pull me up. I know He is pulling many of us up daily, so thank You, Jesus!

While I am learning, there are still days when it can feel overwhelming. As Pastor Steve mentioned in his devotional on March 27th, it’s time for NEW THINGS. Just like Pastor Steve, technology is definitely NOT one of my gifts. However, if I don’t learn a serious bunch of new skills that require the tech side of things VERY quickly, I will be no good to the church with the gifts I have.

A couple of weeks ago, I was feeling overwhelmed by the hauntings of my inadequacies and the many ways in which I fall short. It was a Tuesday (which means a day of many meetings for us on the church staff ), and our Tuesdays begin with our small group staff meetings. On this particular day, I was wanting to hold it in, to appear fine, together, and strong. But this is my small group, and I trust each person in this small group, so I opened up and told them how I was feeling.

We had already succeeded in doing several weeks of online services, and Chris Pan, our Executive Director, knew how much each of us was doing at the time, growing and stretching ourselves significantly. I told them, however, that I felt so inadequate and that I was failing at so much.

They let me talk and didn’t interrupt as I shared openly about my thoughts. At the end, Chris was smiling, and I couldn’t understand why. Then he said, “Roz! Look how far you’ve come over the past few weeks! Give yourself grace! I recently read something where someone said, ‘Take the next one faithful step.’ And I’m going to encourage you to do just that. Take the next ONE faithful step. And be really okay with it!”

Talk about the strong and mighty hand of God pulling me up! I immediately felt a weight lifted! I felt my countenance shift, and I said, “Wait!!! I need to write that down right away,” which I did. And I’ve read that quote almost every single day since then.

One day I was feeling discouraged again, and I remembered what Chris had said. I searched for the paper, which had gotten buried under a load of paperwork, found it and taped it to the middle of my wall on my right. But sometimes I need to see things right in front of me to have it sink in. So I copied it and taped it to the bookshelf right in front of me!

Good messages.

If you have moments of feeling overwhelmed, I encourage you to remember Chris’ wonderful words of life––give yourself grace, take the next ONE faithful step, and be really okay with it!

I remember the days of old. I meditate on all Thy doings; I muse on the work of Thy hands. I stretch out my hands to Thee. My soul longs for Thee as a parched land. Answer me quickly O Lord, my spirit fades. Do not hide Thy face from me lest I become like those who go down to the pit. Let me hear Thy lovingkindness in the morning, for I trust in Thee. Teach me the way in which I should go. For to Thee, I lift up my soul. (Psalm 143:5-8)

Prayer: Thank You, Heavenly Father, for putting people in our lives who remind us what You would have us know and hear. Thank You for Your grace, which constantly amazes me. Thank You for the message to take the next one faithful step and to be okay with it. Come alongside each of us as we take each step throughout each day. Amen.

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May 6, 2020

By Karen Makishima, Director of Family life Ministries

Some of us on the First Prez staff are on a 30-day online retreat called Ascending with Ignatius led by Mark Edward Thibodeaux. It embraces the guidelines of St. Ignatius, who was a priest and theologian in the 1500’s. St. Ignatius developed spiritual exercises like the Daily Examen that we still use today to help us reflect more on God and be drawn closer to Him.

Day 2 of the retreat takes a look at the book of Genesis, where we find God creating the universe, the world, and humankind, and then declaring His creation as very good. Genesis 3 even implies that God would go regularly to the garden He created to spend time with Adam and Eve, indicating that God created humans to be in close relationship with Him and with each other.

But instead of us enjoying this intimacy with God, humanity’s response to Him, more often than not, is rebellion. We get stuck in our sins and become captives separated from our Creator. We cannot run “the good race for Christ” (2 Timothy 4) if sin is holding us back.

Mark Thibodeaux says, “Sin is like a pebble in our shoe.” We have to remove the pebble. Otherwise we will not be able to run the race well.

I wonder if God is using this time of COVID-19 to bring us out of our busy routines and schedules that draw us away from Him – to take those pebbles out of our shoes. Many of us are so caught on life’s wheel of too much work, Netflix, fine foods, sports, academia, shopping, etc. that we leave no space to walk with God. As a result, our relationships have been deprived of care and attention, including our relationship with our Creator.

Jeremiah 29: 11 - 14

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.

Those verses remind us that God has a plan to prosper us. He wants to restore our marriages, and our relationships with family & friends. He wants to restore our health, our joy, and restore shalom (Hebrew for peace) in our homes. And most of all He wants to restore our relationship with Him but we need to be willing to spend time with Him.

This is God’s promise to me: when I call on Him and seek Him with all my heart, He will find me and bring me out of captivity. It is His promise for you too.

I pray that this time of sheltering in place would be a time of removing the pebbles from our shoes so that we can run the race with joy.

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May 5, 2020

By Roslyn Catracchia, Director of Worship and Congregational Life

At the end of March, Chris Pan said he heard someone say, “It feels like the 485th day of March!” I agree! It feels like this quarantine period has been going on forever! And I’m not the only one feeling like this.

Last week a friend of mine wrote on Facebook, “Went through Starbucks drive through today. (Starbucks) Lady asked what I’d like. I said, ‘May I get a venti Pumpkin Spice Latte?’ She said, ‘Oh, I’m so sorry, we don’t have that yet.’ I said, ‘What?!? Isn’t it October yet? What day is it? This is the first day I’ve been out of the house. Is the pandemic over?’ (Starbucks lady) was a good sport and laughed, saying ‘I think it’s Wednesday.’ My family, however, was less than thrilled at my shenanigans.”

The moments are melting into days, and the days into weeks, and through it all, we’re finding new ways of filling our days. So much is not “normal” as we know it. But I’m hearing more and more stories of widening our vision, of growing in our understanding. And many of us are finding time we didn’t think we had to grow closer to God.

Okay, so some days are easier to “grow closer to God” than others, for sure. Much of my time these days is spent trying to navigate through the technical mazes I’m facing, figuring out how to do things by myself at home that I used to have a whole team of people doing with me. I call friends for advice often, and I use technology (FaceTime) to show them my problem and hope they can help me fix things. But overall, what might have taken only a few minutes in the past sometimes takes hours.

So I have to remind myself to stop, stand, breathe, stretch, pray, walk, sigh, smile, and … look up

A couple of weeks ago, after hours inside the house on online Zoom meetings, I finally felt a strong tug on my heart to go for a walk. I threw on my shoes, threw open the front door, and set out purposefully. I strode willfully to the sidewalk, eyes down, determined to exercise the stress out of me. And then … I looked up! And oh, what I saw took my breath away!

The sky, the splendor! It stopped me in my tracks. I walked a few more steps and had to stop for a significant time and just stared at the beauty. My gaze was transfixed, and I know it’s kind of crazy, but the glorious sky got me crying.

I told God, “Goodness! But You’re showing off today, aren’t You?”

And I kind of felt like He said back to me, “Well, it’s about time you looked up.”

It amazes me how wonderfully creative our Heavenly Father is, never ceasing to use new ways to get the attention of us stubborn, reluctant creatures.

"When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained; What are human beings that You are mindful of them, mortals that You care for them? Yet You have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor. You have given them dominion over the works of Your hands. You have put all things under their feet.”

—Psalm 8:3-6

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” (Psalm 19:4)

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for calling us with Your gentle, sweet Spirit, reminding us to take a break from our labor, from our frustrations and from our worries and heavy hearts, and to look up and see what wondrous gifts You have for us, in the heavens, in our friends, in Your Word, and in countless other places throughout each day and night. Amen

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May 4, 2020

By Pastor Tim Shaw

“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

“This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” (1 John 4:10–16 TNIV)

 My family and I just celebrated my mom’s birthday - over Zoom - the video conferencing platform many of us are using to stay in touch with one another. My mom raised me to be a gentleman, so I’ll say only this much. The first number in my mom’s age is a “9.”

My sister Debbie created a video tribute honoring my mom that we watched during the online party. It was about 15 minutes long and covered ONLY the first 10 years of my mom’s life! As I watched the images in that tribute, what struck me again and again was the incredible love and devotion captured by those photos.

My grandfather was an evangelist who led revival meetings all around the US and Canada and eventually served as a pastor in Los Angeles. He passionately wanted people to know Jesus. His wife, my grandmother, played the organ in the church and was an incredible partner in ministry. The two of them loved Jesus, and it is absolutely clear that they also adored their daughter, my mom. That legacy of love rolled down the generations and continues to do so, and I am the grateful beneficiary of the relentless, renewing power of that love.

The love that permeated my mom’s family had its origin in the love of Jesus that had first captured her parents’ hearts and empowered them to show their daughter how to trust the relentless, renewing love of God in all circumstances. All of that was clearly visible to me in the images that flashed on the screen during my sister’s tribute.

Using a neighborhood app, our other sister, Cindy, alerted the neighbors that a big birthday was being celebrated on Iris Avenue in Corona Del Mar. At 12 noon on her birthday, people, many who did not know my mom, came by the house with signs and songs, sharing happy birthday wishes. They brought gifts to celebrate a remarkable woman many had never met. I watched a video of this joyous parade of cars. The people honked their horns and spread joy and hope in a season of so much uncertainty and anxiety. It was amazing! I could hear the emotion in my sister’s voice as she called out her thanks to everyone in the parade. It was a beautiful thing to see the relentless, renewing power of love at work, once again, in my mom’s heart.

My mom has navigated decades filled with challenges facing our nation and world. She has journeyed through difficult seasons in her personal and family life. She had to find a way to survive my adolescence to name just one! She has lived through times of great uncertainty, and to this day she would still point to the relentless, renewing love of Jesus. She would confidently say that He is completely trustworthy, no matter what.

The soundtrack my sister used for the final four minutes of her video tribute is a song by Secret Garden called Raise Your Voices. Let me invite you to join my mom and raise your own voice today in praise of the God of relentless, extravagant love. If you’d like to watch it, here is a link to the last four minutes of my sister’s video tribute to our mom. The lyrics of the song are included in the video’s description and are, like my mom, remarkable.

My grandfather, grandmother, and my mom would all affirm that the ultimate tribute is due not to them or to any of us but is owed to the One who is the source of all love. Our God is the One who is able to steady us, strengthen us, guide us, encourage us and calm us no matter how turbulent the days may be. Just ask my mom. For a lifetime, God has done all of that for her.

Though your nights be dark and fearful

Though we face the dimming day

Though the heart be sad and tearful

Trust Him, He will light the way

Raise your voices, raise your voices

Praise to Him the living word

To the Heavens high ascending

Raise your voices to the Lord

(Songwriters: Brendan Graham / Rolf Lovland | Raise Your Voices lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group)

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May 2, 2020

By Chris Pan, Executive Director

Hello church! I’ve mentioned in the past how I’m a big fan of the app Pray As You Go. I listen to it almost every day. It’s a short 12-minute or so devotional – music, a short Bible passage, some questions for reflection. Beside the daily prayer, there are also some other great prayer tools in the app: imaginative contemplation, Daily Examen, prayers about mental health awareness (loneliness, depression, insomnia, anxiety), and more. They’ve even got a series now called “Pray As You Stay,” which I think is very clever. I highly recommend trying the app.

(If you have an Android phone, you can download Pray As You Go from Google Play here. If you have an iPhone, click here to download it from the App Store.) 

Anyway, a few weeks ago (April 16 to be precise), the first minute of the prayer was the following, and it blew me away:  

Amidst these uncertain times, it can be easy to get caught up in fear, worry, and being overwhelmed. These are natural responses, and we can welcome and acknowledge them. At the same time, we are invited to remember that God is present within this situation, working for our good and the good of all the world. God is inviting us to trust in and collaborate with that work. Repeat the following to still yourself and help you tune into this truth.

Be still and know that I am God.

Be still and know that I am.

Be still and know.

Be still.

Man, I don’t even remember what the rest of that day’s prayer was, or what the verse was. But boy, do I remember that intro. I’ve been trying to repeat it to myself, often. I’ve been trying to still myself and tune in.

“Be still and know that I am God” is from Psalm 46. You can read the whole Psalm, if you like, by clicking here.

So, I encourage you to take some time today and this week: Be still and tune into God.

Prayer: God, I still myself and want to tune into You. I repeat this to myself now:

Be still and know that I am God.

Be still and know that I am.

Be still and know.

Be still.

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May 1, 2020

By Pastor Dan Chun

“Truly God is good to the upright, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant; I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For they have no pain; their bodies are sound and sleek. They are not in trouble as others are;

they are not plagued like other people.” (Psalm 73:1-5)

Be careful of comparison.      

In this time of difficulty due to the coronavirus, when we are losing our job or not receiving stimulus help from the government or not having the chance to get things we need let alone hoard them, we can get envious of others who have kept their jobs and seem to have more than enough.

The Bible warns us of having “slippery feet,” where we grow jealous and at times bitter about other people or our own experience.

Some have large homes, and so the shelter-in-place is easier. We look at that and our feet can get slippery. Some donʻt have the challenges of living with family or a roommate. We look at that and our feet can get slippery. Some don’t know how hard it can be to live in a studio apartment by ourselves. We look at that and our feet can get slippery. Some make more money than we, and we can get resentful toward God or others about that, and our feet can get slippery.

But God says to keep looking at Him and not at others. Donʻt get bitter.

 Psalm 73 ends with these key verses (v21-28):

“When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, I was stupid and ignorant; I was like a brute beast toward You. Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will receive me with honor. Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is nothing on earth that I desire other than You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

“Indeed, those who are far from You will perish; You put an end to those who are false to You. But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, to tell of all Your works.”

I could end my devotional right here with talking about those who might be embittered about seemingly getting the short end of the stick right now.

But I have a word for those who are in a blessed state.

May those who are in more fortunate situations, out of grateful hearts, take this time to help those in need.

I like what Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (who with Danica Patrick bought a $28 million home in Malibu last year) said recently during an interview on The Hawk Cast:

“One thing that I havenʻt done or will not do is (be) one of those celebs whoʻs telling you how difficult it is, or stay-in-your-home stuff, from a mansion. What I do know is that my friends who are small-business owners are really hurting....Thereʻs real people hurting, so Iʻm not going to sit here in my privilege and tell people from my ivory tower to do this or that.”

Aaron Rodgers gets it.

May we all get it–––that we need to be grateful for what we have, big or small, for as the Psalmist writes, “God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever!” (Psalm 73:28)         

Prayer: Lord, may we always have grateful hearts for what we have. May we always have servant hearts to help those less fortunate than we. In Christʻs name, Amen.

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April 30, 2020

By Patty Kamahele, Administrative Assistant

I was texting with my niece to see how she was doing during these quarantine days, and she ended it with encouraging words from the great theologian Dory, from the movie Finding Nemo, who said, “Just keep swimming!” 

I thought that was so apropos and a good reminder for us all to keep on keepin’ on; to keep the faith. 

I remember when my other niece was in a swim meet when she was very young. She was way behind the other swimmers, but she did not give up until she finished the race! She was determined to reach the goal set before her, no matter what. People cheering her on motivated her to persevere. “Just keep swimming!”

The Lord has a great plan even in the midst of what all of us are going through during this time, and He wants to use us in the lives of others. We might ask ourselves, “How can the Lord use me? I’m not good enough, or smart enough”, or whatever.

Maybe He wants us to just share an encouraging word with someone to let them know we care. Maybe He wants us to help meet a physical need. (By the way, small or big is not in God’s vocabulary. He is pleased with whatever we do for Him). Maybe He wants us to share His Word with others by giving them the hope we all need, especially now.

I read a quote that said, “My prayer for you as you walk through seasons of joy and seasons of difficulty is that God will illumine your life in such a way that Christ becomes visible to everyone you meet.”

Today may we all “just keep swimming” as we fix our eyes on the Author and Finisher of our faith––Jesus! And may we reflect Him as we do.

“In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” (Matthew 5:16)

Prayer: Lord, You are good. You are faithful. And that You would even want to use us is amazing. Please show us how we can “just keep swimming” not only in our own lives, but to encourage others to do the same. As water reflects images, may we reflect You in our words and in our actions. In a world that desperately needs You, may we be a light that shines for You. In the Name of Jesus. Amen.

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April 29, 2020

By David Chang, Director of Ministry Support

With this sheltering in place, you would think now that with all the time saved from commuting, shopping, and going out, it would be easier to do our spiritual disciplines, like reading the Bible, praying, and worshipping God. But full authenticity: not me! I thought now I could read more Scripture, spend more time in prayer, and worship more passionately. But no. There seems to be more distractions, more interruptions, more excuses. 

What’s the matter with me? Doesn’t the Bible say, “Be holy, because I am holy” (Leviticus 11:45b)? Why can’t I be more holy? I need to try harder. 

Then I remembered something that someone shared with me:

Holiness Is

(by Father John Catoir)

Holiness is not something that comes from doing good; 

we do good because we are holy.

Holiness is not something we acquire by avoiding evil; 

we avoid evil because we are holy.

Holiness is not something that follows from prayer; 

we pray because we are holy.

Holiness is not the result of kindness; 

we are kind because we are holy.

Holiness is not something that blossoms when we are courageous; 

we are courageous because we are holy.

Holiness is not the result of character building; 

we build character because we are holy.

Holiness is not a gift we obtain after a lifetime of service; 

we give service because we are holy.

Our holiness is God with us, Emmanuel. And while it’s’ true that holiness carries with it both the Cross and Resurrection, it is more a gift than a reward.

Yes, holiness is a gift; it is not a reward. It comes from spending time with God, and as a result we become more like Him. I keep forgetting this. I forget that Jesus is speaking to me: 

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with Me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with Me and work with Me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with Me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matthew 11:28-30, The Message)

Prayer: Thank You, Jesus, for reminding me. Yes, I am holy because You are holy. But I’m not holy because of what I do; I am holy because of who You are. Help me to just walk with You and work with You. Help me to know that as I long I’m keeping company with You, that’s all I need. Amen. 

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April 28, 2020

By Jason Waldrep, Associate Director of Worship

“Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him” (Psalm 34:8)

It is amazing how God created us to experience the world around us. With our senses, we are able to receive data through receptors that our brain translates into different experiences. It takes a complex biological, electrical, and chemical web of information to create a single experience, but we literally have thousands upon thousands of them every single day. From the things we see, objects we touch, aromas we smell, sounds we hear, and food we taste, our bodies are experienced factories that are one second away from the next memorable or totally forgettable moment. 

So let’s talk specifically about taste. Imagine me offering you a slice of juicy lemon. Now imagine taking it and putting it directly in your mouth. Now bite down. Anything happen? Just writing these words, I started salivating instantly. Maybe you did, too. Tasting is a powerful sensory experience!

Our experiences of taste are so powerful, they embed deep into our memories. These experiences, whether pleasurable or painful, become firmly planted into the soil of our human experience. This is why we all have our list of go-to “comfort foods,” or foods we enjoy, that bring satisfaction not only to our tummies but also to our souls. When I catch a cold, I crave yuk gae jang, a spicy beef and vegetable Korean soup. Just tasting it makes me feel better instantly. 

When the psalmist David says “taste and see that the Lord is good,” I believe he is inviting us to experience God in a new way. David is using the experience of taste here as a spiritual call to action because of taste’s ability to create experiences that develop new cravings and shape new habits in us. When we taste something delicious, it creates a desire in us for more, which then often leads to new behaviors that make it possible for us to continue experiencing this pleasure or comfort. If you’ve ever made a trip to the potato chip bowl with the intent to eat just one, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

David is speaking from experience and believes that when we taste and see ourselves that God is good, we will continue to crave Him and create new habits of experiencing Him. This is why the second half of the verse says “blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.” The sensory experience of tasting is so powerful that we can’t help but go back for more. Like returning to that chip bowl over and over again, the Lord becomes who we return to time and time again for spiritual sustenance and satisfaction. 

Pastor Dan reminded us on Sunday that Jesus Himself invites us to experience Him in this same way. Jesus’ words in Matthew 11:28 are an invitation to taste and see. “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Jesus is not simply inviting us to a meeting, He’s inviting us to a sensory experience, an encounter with Himself that will bring supernatural rest. Just one encounter with Jesus can change our spiritual reality, create new desires, and forge new habits in our daily lives, but we have to be willing to taste and see. We have to be willing to accept His invitation. We must be willing to try.

Prayer: God, in the midst of all the uncertainty, anxiety, and fear, help us to turn to You before anything else. Nothing satisfies like You. Give us the strength and wisdom to seek Your presence in new ways throughout our day, and to accept the invitation to experience You, Your rest, and Your goodness always. Amen.

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April 27 2020

By Kathy Makuakane, Exec. Asst. to the Senior Pastor

Soon after I became an Elder at First Prez, I was given the opportunity to help serve Communion. This particular Sunday, we had Communion by intinction, when people come forward in a line to take a piece of bread, dip it in the cup of grape juice, and receive the Lord’s Supper.

The person holding the plate of bread says, “The body of Christ, given for you.” The person holding the cup of juice says, “The blood of Christ, shed for you.” On that Sunday I held the cup representing Jesus’ shed blood. What happened during that 10-minute experience deeply moved and profoundly changed me.

For years, the faces of people at church seemed to tell me that most were doing well in their lives. Occasionally, someone would go through something difficult, but mostly, people were fine.

I saw something very different that day. Nearly everyone I served revealed an expression of raw vulnerability and deep need. Many were obviously in pain, some were crying. I quickly became aware that I was witnessing a moment of complete honesty and surrender between a person and their Savior, something incredibly sacred. Across the board, God was meeting with His beloved in their struggles. And it took every ounce of strength I had to not melt into tears.

During this pandemic, it is much more obvious that we are all struggling on some level. This is hard, but God is here. He is ready in any moment to meet with us, to forgive us, to heal us, to encourage us, to save us, and to give us hope.

Take a moment now to remember what He has done for you, and be reminded that He will never leave you or forsake you. He wants to meet with you. His beloved.

I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in Him!” The Lord is good to those who depend on Him, to those who search for Him. So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord. (Lamentations 3:20-26)

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we need You. Thank You that Jesus gave His life for us and that You are always there for us, even in our struggles. Thank You that You love us. Please speak to us now. Let us hear Your heart as we give You ours. In the faithful name of Jesus, Amen. 

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April 25 2020

By Shayna Kusumoto, Graphics and Communications

It was a normal Tuesday, March 10th, when I got a call from Chris Pan (First Prez Executive Director). “We MIGHT have to cancel church services on March 22 (two Sundays away),” he said, “and move all church services online because of this whole coronavirus thing.” Whoa. We can’t pull that off in two weeks, I thought. Then two days later he called again saying, “Umm, scratch that—we have to cancel worship services starting THIS Sunday, March 15.”

“Three days from now? Oh, okay….”

I did not think it was possible to take our worship services completely online in such a short timeframe. But the staff all got to work right away. The Sunday video got produced and published. The word was sent out to the congregation, and to my astonishment, there were a record breaking 1,017 views of the first Sunday video we ever produced! 

I can’t, but God can. 

God is teaching me that truth week after week after week. Just when I think, “Yea, I got it. Look at how awesome our online services are! We did it,” something happens that humbles me big time. God’s reminding me that He alone is the Giver of every good and perfect gift. It’s not me, it’s not even us—it’s all because of Him. 

I’ve been reading the story of Joseph, the son of Jacob, in the Old Testament. Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery in Egypt. He worked hard but ended up in prison after a false accusation. One day the Egyptian Pharaoh was bothered by dreams that no one could interpret, but he learned about Joseph’s ability to interpret dreams so he summoned for him. What an opportune time for Joseph to show off his dream interpretation skills! Show what you can do, man! 

It’s Joseph’s response to Pharaoh’s request that stands out for me: “I can’t do it by myself, but God will tell you what it means!” (Gen 41:16 TLB) 

Joseph knew he wasn’t able to interpret dreams on his own. It was all God. 

And that is EXACTLY what I’m learning week by week with these online church services. I can’t do it—but God can. That is EXACTLY the attitude of the heart that I want to have. Joseph gets it. It’s a constant, dynamic, active balance between humility and confidence. The humility to know that on my own, I can’t. But the confidence to know without a doubt that God CAN. 

Fast-forward to present day. Every person you see in our online service has had to go through a steep learning curve of how to film themselves–how to get the composition, lighting, and audio right. This is all new territory for every one of them. They may have doubted their own ability to do it. They may have said to themselves “No, I can’t do that.” 

But you and I can attest to the fact that despite what they thought, GOD CAN! God is doing so much through them! Whether that’s Roz or Jason on keyboard, Pastor Dan’s son Quinn filming him in their living room, Steve’s son Caleb on his camera, Tim, Jenny, Chris, Karen, and Candi filming their Sunday school lesson, Nora on Facebook and Instagram, Matt and Christian shepherding the youth group on Zoom, Jeff holding virtual meetups with the young adults, Rosella, David, and every staff and volunteer host you see in the public chat pane of the online service has had to go through quick and rigorous training and testing. They prep and pray over the services and Zoom meetings before, during, and after you show up. And the admin team are all following up during the week on prayer requests and decisions to follow Jesus.  

We can’t do it, God CAN. 

God is doing something huge with His Church through this pandemic. He is empowering His people to minister in brand new ways, reaching people who may not have been interested in going to church for a worship service. Now the service is coming to them right where they’re at—at HOME. And isn’t that so like Jesus? Jesus went to Matthew’s tax collector booth, to Peter, James, and John’s fishing dock so He could tell them to follow Him. So why wouldn’t He also come to us as we shelter in place? Not just to us, but to the world THROUGH us!

Prayer: Lord Jesus, come be with us. Whatever we’re facing today, we confess we can’t do it on our own. But Jesus, You CAN. With You all things are possible! Help us to put our confidence where it belongs—in Your strength, Your ability, Your provision, Your loving kindness. Thank you for faithfully enabling us through every challenge as we look to You. Increase our confidence in You. Accomplish Your will for this world through US, Lord. You can, Lord. You can. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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April 24, 2020

By Nora Cunning, Pastoral and Media Support

How are you doing?

That question used to be so simple, something as routine as saying hello. I don’t think I realized until these COVID quarantine days of how important that question is to me. 

You see, I used to take it for granted, and it’s because someone asks me that several times a day. And  most of the time, without even a thought, I would just say, “Good!” Of course, on bad days, I would say, “Not so good,” which would normally lead to a great, uplifting conversation. I could process, find resolution, and receive prayer. This took little to no effort being the extrovert that I am. 

But now, in these days of quarantine, “How are you doing” doesn’t come as often anymore. 

Earlier this week I found myself feeling a little oppressed by depression. I am not sure how it came about, but by the time I realized it, it was pretty heavy. I honestly did not realize how lost I was feeling until two friends asked, “How are you doing?” 

That made me pause and think.

It only takes a couple of days of getting out of a routine, a few bad run-ins with my kids or my husband, a couple of skipped workouts, a few missed prayers, and wham! I am weeping over a simple and easy but extremely IMPORTANT question–––How are you doing?

Psalm 139 ends with a check-in:

Search me, God, and know my heart:

Test me and know my anxious thoughts.

See if there is any offensive way in me,

And lead me in the way everlasting. 

So, this is my hope for today–––that we would all check in with each other and ask, “How are you doing?” And let’s not only check in with each other, but also check in with ourselves and most importantly with God. 

The people who reached out to me were prompted by God to do so. One even said so. She obeyed God, and by doing so, she lifted my spirits and prevented me from spiraling down any further. PRAISE THE LORD!

Moving forward I will be sure to be more self-aware and continue to rely on God and my family in Christ, who can hold me accountable for that. 

If I were to ask you “How are you doing” and you find yourself struggling to answer it, I encourage you to reach out to us, so we can support you by praying for you. The First Prez staff is just an email away: prayer@fpchawaii.org

Jesus cares about you, and so do we.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your faithfulness to provide for my every need. Even when I can not see, You see and You gently show me through Your perfect grace and mercy. Thank You for sending Your people to find me. Please guide me to those who need You. Search me God and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts, see if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

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April 23, 2020

By Marianna Meachen, Director of Care Ministries

Proverbs 3: 5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight. (NIV)

 On April 6, 2017 my husband Rich died. It was a sad, lonely time. Life was not the same. I felt isolated from the world. I didn’t feel like me anymore. There was no “normal” in my life.

This was not my first loss, not even the first husband I had lost. You see, I was widowed at 29. Losing Rich doubled my pain, and I was so confused. I had lots of questions for God: Was there something I had done to warrant this? Was I not good enough to have a husband in God’s eyes? Did God not love me? Was I being punished?

 But in spite of those questions and doubts, the first thing from my mouth every morning was, “Good morning, God. I love You. I trust You. I don’t understand.”

As I began to pour out my heart to Him and looked for solace in the Bible, I eventually dropped the “I don’t understand” part. I would just say, “Good morning, God. I love You, and I trust You.”

Did my circumstances change? No. I still woke up alone each morning. What changed was my heart and my outlook. I simply decided to trust Him fully and in all circumstances. I chose to trust that His plan for my life was greater than what I could see around me. I chose to believe that He loved me. I chose to believe that I did not understand the bigger picture. I chose to believe God wanted to walk with me to the place where I could find my “new” normal.

This time of sheltering in place may feel as though your old normal has died. But this time of uncertainty could be a time to sharpen your faith, your spiritual maturity, and dependency on Jesus.

 Here is what I learned from my own experience.

1.     DEPEND ON GOD’S STRENGTH, NOT YOURS. We need to be truly rooted in the Lord if we are to fully trust Him. Your heart must be connected with His. Make Him your lifeline. Pray, pray, pray.

2.     SEEK GOD. Cry out to Him. Tell him everything! This is indispensable. The time spent on my knees gave me complete rest in Him. It was when I began to have insight into God’s holiness.

3.     PUT GOD FIRST. The moment we put Him first in our lives is the moment He can act on our behalf. Read Scripture first thing in the morning. When we make Him first, it gives an opportunity for the natural to encounter the supernatural.

When you are in His presence continually, you will encounter Him in a new and beneficial way. It will help diminish your fears, your hurts, and your heartaches. 

Prayer: Father, we love You and trust You. Let us seek You continually, putting You first. Let us rest in Your arms, the place we call home. Let us not be afraid to step into the unknown and scary places in our lives and trust You in the uncertainty. Amen

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April 22, 2020

By Pastor Dan Chun

Whenever I think of Psalm 23, I think of it in the old King James Version, even though it is antiquated, for that is how I learned it:

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:

He leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul:

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me;

Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:

Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:

and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

As we face the challenges of our day in health, finances, and emotional stress, I find Psalm 23 to be comforting.

We are reminded that the Lord is like a kind shepherd who takes care of our needs. He will comfort us in difficult times as if He is leading us in serene green pastures, bringing us to places of cool refreshing water, and restoring our souls. Just visualizing that gives me strength and hope.

And though all across the world there is death due to pestilence, we are reminded that we are to walk THROUGH the valley of the shadow of death. It doesn’t say to stop in it.

God will get us through this difficult time of disease and death. He will get us through hardship. For as the Psalm says––surely goodness and mercy will “catch up” to us and and we can dwell in the shelter of the Lord forever. That is one shelter in which I wouldn’t mind staying home.

The book end to this is that Jesus said in verse 11 of the 10th chapter of the Gospel of John, “I am the Good Shepherd, and the Good Shepherd lays down His life for His sheep.” And in verse 14: “I am the good good shepherd. I know My own, and My own know Me.”

It is for this reason I can sleep at night and rest in the love of the Lord. He knows me, protects me, and has given His life for me. Amen!

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for always being with us, watching over us, protecting us. We praise You and thank You for Your loving kindness. In Christʻs name, Amen.

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