Jaeson Ma

One of my spiritual heroes is Jaeson Ma.

I first heard about Jaeson Ma from my youngest brother, Alex. He had gone to a Christian conference called Nyack over a long weekend. When he came back, he was a changed man. He kept raving on and on about this amazing speaker named Jaeson Ma.

What amazes me about Jaeson’s life is how much Jaeson trusts, turns, and depends on God. And in return, I’m amazed at the many and different ways God blesses him.

In this world, we can strive for greatness or we can depend and look to God for our greatness. When we try to do it on our own, our achievements are limited. But when we depend on God for our achievements, when we depend on the supernatural and the spiritual, there are no boundaries. God breaks through any barriers.

Jaeson Ma’s recent project is a great example. Ever since he was little, Jaeson aspired to be a rapper. An Asian rapper. If he were to rely on his own capabilities, he very well may have gone on to rap. But because he relied on God’s strength and not his own, because he sought God first, God blessed him with more than he could ask for, blessed his talents. And as a result, Jaeson recently put out a single that’s unlike any genre of music. It’s a genre divinely inspired. It’s music inspired by God.

Whenever I start to plan for my success and figure out the steps I need to make to get there, I remind myself that my ways are so limited. Recently, I keep coming back to this idea that I can seek after my success, yes, or I can look to God for my success. I can be the best that I can be, or I can be the best God that can make me.

Why settle with our human limitations? Why not strive for more, for what has no limits?

The Beginning of...

The very first time I met Carol was at church on a Friday night.
Our first conversation was her asking me about Hong Kong TV shows.
I think "Do you watch TVB?" were her exact words.
I remember being intimidated by her...

Her confidence-- in approaching someone new;
Her style-- I specifically remember this look of hers, where she would layer a white T underneath a black one with the white sleeves poking out a little;
Her "mature" perspective in life-- when I was using some stupid Applebee's jingle which I can no longer remember for this tagline game we were playing, she was using "Maybe it's Maybelline";
She became close friends with this girl at church that I thought was cool, and it seemed like they would do all kinds of fun things I didn't know about together;
She went out to parties with people I wish would invite me to hang out with, at clubs that I wish I knew about....
Everything about this girl intimidated me.

One of the most tried and true facts in this world is that women bond over the inadequacy of men. Carol and my friendship started from what she calls "shared misery".
I don't even remember how it began, but we started venting to each other about our awful boyfriends, and just like that-- our friendship started blossoming.

Shortly after we started getting close, I had to leave the country for 3 months. I half expected us to lose touch while I was away-- But somehow our friendship didn't grow apart from the distance. We overcame time difference problems and managed to talk/email/facebook/msn each other almost everyday. I spoke to her more than I did to my boyfriend; yet at times I would still miss her more than I missed him.

Now more than 2 years later, after fashion shows, shopping trips, operas, sleepovers, major crying sessions at movie theaters, haircuts, business ideas (nail color mixing kit anyone?), a lot of yummy foods, church visits, and a wonderful baby named Jeremy Asher Tran, we are still going strong, keeping each other sane, and sharing little discoveries in life.

We've grown so much since the days of me being intimidated by her. Carol has been the best friend/listener/advice giver/companion I can ask for, and my appreciation for her goes beyond words. We started this blog because we wanted a place to record our friendship, we titled it "Grace Inspired" because we want to build each other up to be the best versions of ourselves -- to face the challenges in our lives with grace. With the "official launch" of Grace Inspired, I am asking you to join in our journey to becoming the best of what we are and share in our dialogue of living grace inspired lives.



Cheers,

A Funeral

As you may (or may not) know, Lillian and I had seriously considered using the name "Two Girls One Blog" for our site. However, due to what it reminds everyone of, we decided to let it go. It seemed only fair that we take a moment of silence to remember the name. What better way to do that than with a funeral.

Dearly Beloved,

Today we gather here on this humble forum to celebrate a short, but well lived life. The life of 'Two Girls One Blog.' And though her fame short, she will always be remembered for her ingeniusness, her creativity, and her wit. It is a shame that her evil twin sister outlived her. The evil sister that ended up killing her. Natural death is heartbreaking as is, but when it is murder, and by a family member, there are no words for such tragedy. Justice will prevail and I know she will be fairly punsihed according to the internet gods.

Though it was only a short moment in time that I knew you, I will always wonder our future, what could have and what would have been. We came so close, and yet we are so far now. But it is all for the best. I wish you well, my friend.

Here's to you, 2G1B, may you live on in our memories forever, and may you find rest.

The Hunt

Lately, I have been applying to jobs. For THE dream job. On average, I would say that I apply to 2-3 positions a day. In the midst of this job hunting frenzy, it becomes so easy to think, “If I only got that position, I would be so happy. Life would be so good. I would have made it.” It becomes so easy to associate your identity with a job.

You know you’ve made an idol out of something when you can’t stop thinking about it day and night. And when you can’t stop fantasizing about how happy it will make you. I’m constantly daydreaming about the font on my business cards, my title position, the office I’ll have and the assistant that needs to come along with it.

When I’m not applying for a job or writing a cover letter, I am looking for jobs to apply to. Day and night, I am seeking that perfect position that I am called to fulfill.

In the midst of this, I was reminded that the final destination is not the window office. Tonight, as I was rushing to get Jeremy into bed so I can resume the job search, God imprinted a passage on my heart:

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

I’ve been seeking jobs much more frantically and passionately than I’ve been seeking God. In any given day, I devote 3 hours doing things that are job-hunting related. Doing things that are God related, like even bothering to read the bible? 30 minutes. At best.

Hearing this song by Phil Whickam was what also brought me back to reality tonig
ht. I was captivated by it and for the first time in days, I felt at peace. I realized that whether jobless or career-driven, homeless or living in my dream house, none of that can shake the love God has for me. None of that changes how God sees me. My identity isn't in what I do.

“Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Day After Day

One recurring lesson I've been learning lately about life is the importance of persistence and consistency. To let you in on a little secret- I'm really bad at being persistent. I am an organized, responsible person -- but I just seem to have trouble sticking to things. I have so many ideas that I initiate and dump the second something doesn't work out, and in the end nothing comes out of anything.

During my last trip to Taiwan, I told my art teacher (who will forever be my mentor) about the event company that I tried to start with a friend. We wrote a business proposal, had a website made, put in money, got registered, researched vendors and contacts; the whole nine yards... for about 3 months. Then everything just kinda... dissolved. I blamed it partly on getting a full time job, but to be honest, I just lost motivation and set it aside. After hearing my story, my art teacher said, “I don't understand why you can't bring the same endurance that you have when you deal with your relationships into the things that you are passionate for". And he is right. I have just celebrated my 4 year anniversary with my boyfriend, and the guy before him lasted 2 years. Any one of my girls will be able to tell you that my relationships are no flowers and butterflies. I go through some pretty crazy things but am always able to endure, fight, and stick it through. But when it comes to my life, and the things that I want to do- I just seem to give up. I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT IS. Why is abandoning a relationship so out of the question, but abandoning a dream comes so naturally? Does anyone else have this problem?

The internet is a very misleading place. It is easy to feel like so many other people have achieved overnight success, and to want it. Everyone these days is looking for that million dollar idea, to get lucky, or to make fast money. It easy to see a famous blogger and think you can do the same thing. But I've learned that these successes don't come easily and very few of them actually come fast. It took twitter over 2 years to get big (I would have given up at 2 months), and it sure takes a lot of blog posts for anyone to start getting heard. Everyone loves a glorious tale of success, but perhaps what our generation needs is more of those hard working stories that our parents grew up with -- to help us learn that no matter how special you are, hard work is still required. It is easy to abandon an idea when things don't go as planned, but time has proven consistency and perseverance invaluable to the materialization of one's dreams. The picture below is of a graduation present from my art teacher. Essentially it says that it is impossible to take one's learning to the level of art, without a serious element of craziness.


Nobody ever called me a crazy event planner, but I’ve definitely been called a crazy girlfriend. Maybe a little craziness is what it takes. If I can be as persistent with my life 's passion as I am with my relationships, I will eventually earn my success too. Of this, I am sure.