Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to an Unbelievable Daddy and Husband.

You are the head and heart of this family. We just wanted to make you laugh. Hope you enjoyed it. We love you so much.

MIA again......

SO much has been happening. I have sorta returned to a hand written journal, and waking at 6a. I am currently reading Elise Fitzpatrick's Overcoming fears, worries, and anxiety. I am about half way. The book has been very helpful. I am right now listening to Tchaikovsky again and I found an interesting and unique interpretation. I think I like it LOL. I admire how passionate Pogorelich is and find his fortissimo to be invigorating. He is his own musician, a modern Beethoven. Anyway, back to life. I'll be back.

Kings and Queens

Just say Jesus

Happy Anniversary :)

I had subscribed to my husband's YouTube account, and today, when I went on it, I got an update from his account. I think this was supposed to be a surprise for our anniversary tomorrow. ;) I am not going to watch it. But it's hilarious it popped up. I love you baby. 8.5 years ago when we met in front of Diary Queen to start our courtship, you told me the most romantic thing a guy could tell a gal. You said "I pray I will show you more of who God is each day in our relationship as we move on toward marriage." God has been so faithful to honor that because you have a heart of gold. No, you are not perfect, but your children and I have seen God refining you into the man He wants you to be because of your willingness, your diligence, and your humility. You are so dedicated, so devoted, so hard working, so selfless, and so inspiring. You have got self discipline like nobody else. My man is full of integrity and is not afraid to tell the honest truth. I have learned so much from you, honey, and I have learned to listen intently to your words. You are full of wisdom and full of goodwill. You have shown me more of who our God is through the transformation that you continually allow the LORD to have in you, and through your persisting love. You are an amazing man. I am out of words for you because you take my breath away with the man you have become. I can't even imagine who you are becoming and I cannot wait to watch the LORD's work in you in the next decades to come. He has great plans for you and for your family, generations to come. I am honored to be your help mate, wife, and best friend. You are like my Abraham as I am your Sarah. <3

LORD Jesus, You are magnificent. Mold us, convict us, transform us, and speak to us till the end of our time. Purify our motives and cleanse our hearts as we continue to serve You alone. Help us not to please any other but You oh Lord. My God, You are an Adventure. Let us hold onto You so we can enjoy our journey even through happiness and suffering. It is You who have brought us through and brought us here. Thank You for celebrating our sacred union and affirming our marriage. Allow Your gifts in us to bring people closer to You. I thank You for opening Phill's ears towards You that I can confidently submit and trust him in making decisions for this family. God, You are mighty. Continue Your work in us so we may continue to bring more souls to You. We pray You fill this family with the Holy Spirit and rain down Your blessings. You know our hearts. You know who we are. You are the God of this house. Do as You please LORD. There is no other God but our God. In Your holy name I pray, AMEN.

Phill's video for me:



Here's my gift to you, baby.......... :-) It's a song for you. Description: 8th year anniversary song for my husband. I wrote this in humor. Try to imagine this sappy song sung in the middle of a musical. :P
There is no one like you babe - jojo


There is no one like you, babe (first draft) | Muziboo



There is no one like you, babe (second draft) | Muziboo


There is nothing I can say
No new words
To tell how I feel
There is no one like you
There is no one like you, babe

There is nothing I can write
No new rhymes
To show how I know
There is no one like you
There is no one like you, babe

You are more than just amazing
More than just willing
More than just faithful
What's that word?
I don't know
There is no one like you

I can use some statements
to describe him
To display my love
There is no one like you
There is no one like you, babe

"You are my hero"
"Your body is so ripped"
"You are my desire"
"You're more than I dream of"
"There is no one like you, babe"


You are more than just amazing
More than just willing
More than just faithful
What's that word?
I don't know
There is no one like you

Grace will be my song

No matter my past, no matter my present, no matter my future, grace will be my song. As believers, we shall refuse to be slaves to time, earthly possession, and bad experience. May the LORD rain His blessings on us as we sing His song.

Classic

chewing

Still chewing on the word "shield" ... Phil read ps115 2 nights ago for family devo and shield came up 3 times to contrast those whose trust is in other things. Those who surrender their trust in others for Jesus as their shield will have His attitude. Phil2. Rejected but joyful. Accused but fearless. Suffered but alive. Victimized but victorious. His attitude is about living a completely transformed life. I like that. I like that I have a "big Brother" whom I adore, admire, and worship. I will follow His footsteps and let Him be my Shield. Thank You Father for sending a perfect example.

Oh Jesus, Alive in me... my soul magnifies you. Who am I that you have chosen me? To serve you? To love you? To receive Your love? When I face adversity, may joy overflow from my suffering. When I face accusation, may You become my identity. When I face disappointment, may I find refuge in Your Word. You have taught me so much in the past 6 months through conviction the Word, difficult decisions, and unexpected situations. You have held on to me and chisel me as a minister's wife. You have knocked on my heart and shape me as my children's mother. You speak to my soul and keep me on Your path. I am amazed by You every day.

SHIELD

Been meditating on the word Shield for the past 2 weeks. Here r my thoughts:

Prov2 shows me He is my shield as I walk blameless according to His righteousness. As a child of God and wife of a minister, I have acquired a bittersweet taste to leaving situations up to Him so He can be my shield. Bitter because it is hard to swallow accusations, tough to bite my tongue of defensiveness, and ultimately realizing my unbelief in Him as my shield. Sweet because His peace and joy become like honey to my soul, because His willingness to be my shield overpowers the taste of bitterness, and I receive incomprehensible comfort and rest. Yes! He is my Shield mightily forged by undeserved suffering, perfect grace, and the furnace of righteousness. For that, my God, I am thankful. "Who am I that You are mindful of me?" Your precious child. Here I am. (Job 7, Heb 2)

Improv

Live like that

My goal as a woman who follows Christ... live life with total abandonment, under His grace.

Music to my ear

It's been a long long time since I woke up to Hanon.

I have woken up to them practicing a little song. But not Hanon yet.

I grew up waking up to my mother teaching piano. Every Saturday and Sunday morning, I'd hear my mom's students play classical music and technique exercises.

This morning at 8, I woke up to a familiar sound. I was a little confused, but as I awoke, I realized Isaac was practicing Hanon #1 by himself. It was truly music to my ears. My eyes opened wide and I propped up going, huh? I tried to figure out if it was Abigail or Isaac. Out of curiosity, I went to the living room and found out I was right. :)

It was a very sweet moment.

Hymn Medley

Another Hymn Medley

Arr. Jo Jo

(Synth)

GCG   GC

Alleluia Alleluia

C                                             G

For our Lord God Almighty reigns

GCG        GC

Alleluia Alleluia

C                                             G

For our Lord God Almighty reigns

GC

Alleluia       (Guitar fade in)

C    GC   G

Holy Holy

                C     G                      D

Are You Lord God Almighty

                                C

Worthy is the Lamb

                                  C

Worthy is the Lamb

                   GC    G  

You are Holy Holy

                C             G             D

Are You Lord God Almighty

                                C

Worthy is the Lamb

                                C

Worthy is the Lamb

G                           D            G(bm)             A   

Amen

D

I stand amazed in the presence

      A                       D
Of Jesus the Nazarene,

        G                                       D       
And wonder how He could love me,

    D                 A                     D
A sinner, condemned, unclean.

D
 how marvelous!   how wonderful!

A
And my song shall ever be:

D                             (bm)
 how marvelous!   how wonderful!

G       em                           A              D
Is my Savior's love for me!

D
He took my sins and my sorrows,

      A                                       D
He made them His very own;

   G                                 D
He bore the burden to Calvary,

          D                   A        D
And suffered and died alone.


(Bonified piano solo)

         D
When with the ransomed in glory

       A                              D
His face I at last shall see,

                G                                D
’Twill be my joy through the ages

       D              A             D
To sing of His love for me.

D                      G

My chains are gone

                      D

I've been set free

                       G                                      D

My God, my Savior has ransomed me

                    G                         D

And like a flood His mercy rains

                       GA                   D

Unending love, Amazing grace (2X)

       D                            G               D

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow  ( fade)

                               A

The sun forbear to shine

         D                                    G      D

But God, Who called me here below

         D     A       D

Will be forever mine 

         G      A       D

Will be forever mine

       D         GA        D

You are forever mine

Quick entry

God bless the 15 CDs that i passed out on friday and bless the ministries that will be using it. Let my song bless the ministers, the ministries, the kids, and the parents. AMEN.

Started a faith journey folder for the kids. God bless these too.

Continue to direct our path as a family. We will go where you go and make Your will known to all. Thank You for letting me and the kids stay in BSF. Let me glorify You with my kids, my gifts, and all I do. I pray for the friends that are in my heart right now for them to continue to seek You and find You. Reveal Your grace to them and overwhelm them with Your Spirit. Help me to be Your vessel and give me Your words for them. AMEN.

a "mock VBS" song

I have been taking a 5-day 8am-5pm intensive class for children's ministry this week and I wrote this song for one of the projects. Class started Monday morning, God gave me this song on Monday night, we are presenting it Thur morning. I have to pretend I am teaching at a VBS and I have to effectively deliver the ABC gospel to the kids in different ways. This is one of the ways:

Click on the title to listen

ABC
by Joanna Koo

Admit! Believe! Confess! 2 3 4
Admit I've done wrong and fallen short (rom3:23)
Believe in my heart that Jesus is the Son of God (rom5:8; jn3:16)
Confess I'm gonna sing, and shout, and tell (rom 10:9-10)
him her you and you and you and you (matt28:19-20)
hey hey hey
that Jesus is the One, the Christ, the Lord
the Light, the Truth, the Messiah,
He is the Son of God, the Savior, and King
the River of life, the One lifted high
I won't be afraid to confess with my mouth
that Jesus is the One, the Christ, the Lord

Oh Lord my GOD, You prove Yourself to be glorious and sovereign. Thank You for letting me meet the people in this class and letting me use the gifts You have given me to finish projects. Continue to use me and mold me. I know You see the finish products and I will trust in Your path and believe in Your plans. Help me remember the ways You have blessed me and empowered me. I love Your Son. Amen, AMEN.

new song

Started 3 songs last night but only finished one.

Click on the title to listen (skeleton version 1) verses 1, 2 and bridge are not in the recording.

Take Root
by Joanna Koo

v1
You declared
You're the vine
You're Emmanuel
Turned water into wine

v2
You proclaimed
You're the One
The Messiah
and Your Father's only Son

pre-chorus
You have the power
to change me inside out
You are the answer
I know, Prince of Peace
Let me

chorus
take root root root
in Your word
in Your Kingdom
in the solid ground
hang on on on
onto You
to Your promises
Your righteousness

v3
I declare
You're the vine
You're Emmanuel
Turned water into wine

v4
I believe
You're the One
The Messiah
and my God's only Son

bridge
Hide me from the breath of every wind
let my roots stretch deep
Renew my Spirit with Your breath of life
My heart is fixed, O God
I will sing and give praise from within

Lord thank You for this song. Teach me and mold me. Continue to help me to be the wife and mother and follower I am to be. Let me burn with desire to know Your word. Give me a clean heart and cleanse my soul. Let me use the gifts You gave me to glorify Your name. AMEN.

song

i had written this song several months ago based on nehemiah and jeremiah. i wanted this song to help people pray for their nations and be broken for the sins of their nations. I recorded with my husband's phone and he somehow transferred it onto his podcast. This was the first recording so the quality is not the way I want and there is pretty much no arrangement. It's just me and my piano. There were a couple of wrong chords and I wasn't sure about some of spots. BUT, the message is the same. It's for the nations.

Click on the title to hear the song:

Heal our Land

by Joanna Koo

verse1
Why is justice so far
that we think darkness is bright
absolute truth is nowhere in sight

verse2
Ten rules to set us apart
But on our own strength we fall
So on Christ alone we will call

prechorus
we are Your glorious creation
A chosen generation
by Your grace we give our confession
That we need Your redemption

chorus
Hear our cry
Hear us pray
"Lift our eyes
Upon Your Son

Heal this land
Remember Your people
Break forth in the darkness and
rise to be victorious"

Bridge:
Heal this land
Remember your people
Heal this land


Lord Jesus, thank You for giving me this song. I don't think I have yet said thank You. Mostly because I am not confident about songs I write and am embarrassed about it. But I thank You now. I acknowledge that You have given me a gift in music and I want to use it to glorify Your name. I know You've got a plan for that and big or small, I want to be a part of Your Kingdom work. Forgive me for thinking that the song had stunk and for believing that I am no good at all. Forgive me for always getting discouraged and giving up for weeks before I get back to believing in Your plans. Continue to perfect my faith and work in my heart. I am available for transformation and I want to be renewed by Your Spirit. Lord I am Your humble servant. God I also ask for a helper, someone who will mentor me and help me write. Help me to focus on my spiritual heart and stop being judgmental. To submit to my husband and serve him. Help me with my kids too. I need lots of help there. Give me Your wisdom to raise them to love You and serve others and obey Your word. I also lift them up as we visit the two ladies at the hospice that You will teach us to love them and give us a chance to show Jesus to them. I pray this prayer in the name of Your precious Son, AMEN.

You Are My King

this guy dennis jernigan was at our church today with his pastor, jack taylor, who is a evangelist pastor. i pray one day the Lord who sings over us will give me songs like He gives him. like how the Lord granted Elisha twice the spirit that Elijah had. Lord, thank You for all you have done in my life. You are my King. Teach me to teach my kids that we serve a King in heaven. I still have a desire to write Kingdom songs. humble me and teach me. use me and speak to me. AMEN.

Worship

I've been at the shed for 2 years leading worship since I doubted God and tried to give up what He's called me to do. I think within a week I had written that blog, we received a call from the children's pastor asking if Phill led worship and Phill said no, and she asked then who did God want from your family to lead worship at the shed? And Phill said, my wife. I pray I don't forget these moments when God shows up. He has given me lots of affirmation and people who carries me through. And I will tell you, every week I get up there, I still get butterflies. I'll be honest, I have even hyperventilated. I'm blessed that the children's worship pastor took me under her wings and let me grow. There's so much I want to do, learn, and expand. But I know it's all in God's timing. He says be still, be patient. God I worship You and You alone. I don't want to lead worship if in my heart You find any sign I am not worshiping You! I hate that I seek affirmation from anyone while I lead worship. I hate that I am distracted sometimes when I sing. I hate that I can't fully worship You after a long day. Lord, I don't want to do it if this is not honoring for You. I don't want to be on that stage throwing up because my focus is so much on how I'd look or sound or lead! God take that away from me. Fill me with Your Spirit and help me focus on You while I am leading these kids, pointing them towards You! I just want to worship You with the gifts You have given me. I long to be with You. Help me to love what You love and hate what You hate. Humble me and use me if You want to. I am blessed to be called Yours. I love you Lord. You are my Savior and my God. Cleanse my heart and call me to You. I am going to wait for You. In Jesus' name I call upon. AMEN.



["Choose honor, partner with the vision, and be faithful with what you are given. Earn the trust, honor leadership, opportunity to see what the Lord will do in my life when I am faithful with what I have right now... It's not an easy thing but a rewarding thing."

"Worship is a connection between me and God... imagine everyone corporately came in already connected to God ready to praise God."

"you can be a light shining anywhere"

"don't sing songs you cannot put your heart fully into "] - Kim Walker Smith

Hosanna in the highest

Break my heart for what breaks Yours, everything I am for Your kingdom's cause......