Posts on Adele Valeria's Blog

Communion Over Service

Tue, 03 Nov 2026 04:09:43 -0500

I have been rereading The Autobiography of George Müller (which I would highly recommend), and here is a quote from the book that made me reflect today:

Often the work of the Lord itself may tempt us away from communion with Him. A full schedule of preaching, counseling, and traveling can erode the strength of the mightiest servant of the Lord. Public prayer will never make up for closet communion.

Prayer or Gossip

Mon, 02 Nov 2026 02:06:07 -0500

Gossiping under the guise of a prayer request. I’ve been pondering that today. When I share something as a prayer request, especially on behalf of other people, am I genuinely seeking godly counsel and prayer, or do I simply want the opportunity to talk about someone else’s situation? Have I ever used a prayer request as an excuse to share unnecessary details that are neither edifying nor mine to disclose? Have I ever used a prayer request as a channel to express my frustrations or subtly influence how others perceive the person I’m praying for?

A Time for Everything: Winter

Sun, 01 Nov 2026 03:18:58 -0500

Today’s sermon at Church of the City was about the different seasons of life, using the changing seasons of the year as an analogy for the seasons we go through. I would like to focus on winter because I feel that it is the season I am currently in, although perhaps nearing its end, as I can already see spring approaching.

In winter, we rest and are pruned, much like a tree “rests” by entering a deep, sleep-like state during the colder months. Winter is also a good time to prune trees because it is easier to see their branching structure without the leaves getting in the way. Additionally, pruning is less stressful for a tree when it is dormant, and there are fewer pests associated with pruning cuts during this time. In this sense, winter pruning is for the good of the tree.

A Call to Die (Sermon Notes)

Sat, 31 Oct 2026 00:40:51 -0400

Notes from a sermon by David Nasser at Lakepointe Church, compiled from mostly direct quotes taken from different parts of the sermon.

Cultural Christianity has taken the most radical message ever preached and reduced it. We’ve simmered it down to a self-improvement program in an effort to be user-friendly. It has turned the message of the cross into upgrading life. We’ve turned Christianity into an upgrade; we’ve reduced it to self-improvement. We’ve turned it into a user-friendly message instead of a message of crucifixion. We’ve turned it into cleaning up instead of giving up our best life now, instead of the crucified life.

The Gospel Is Worth Proclaiming

Fri, 30 Oct 2026 02:17:52 -0400

Today, I participated in an evangelism outreach organized by New York Will Be Saved at Washington Square Park. My partner for the day was Simone, who also moved to New York from Georgia earlier this year.

It’s been a little over two months since I moved to NYC, and I’m realizing more and more that it’s no coincidence I’m here. God is moving, revival is stirring, and the Christians I’ve met here are on fire! God is sending laborers to New York City!

The Radical Forgiveness of Joseph

Thu, 29 Oct 2026 23:23:36 -0400

I just finished rereading the book of Genesis, the first book you come across when you open the Bible. It contains the story of Joseph. If you’re not familiar with his story, here’s an oversimplified version.

Joseph was the son of Jacob (who was the son of Isaac and the grandson of Abraham) and was highly favored by his father among his siblings. The favoritism, along with Joseph bluntly telling his brothers about his dreams in which they would bow down to him, fueled their resentment. Eventually, his brothers plotted to kill him but changed their minds and sold him as a slave to a group of merchants heading to Egypt. They then lied to Jacob, telling him that Joseph had been killed by a wild animal.

His Word Shall Not Return Empty

Wed, 28 Oct 2026 01:48:10 -0400

Today, I went to the morning prayer set at Church of the City for the first time (guess I’m slowly entering my morning person era, haha). I arrived around 6:45 AM, so I was able to join the latter part of the 6 AM prayer set before staying for the next one at 7 AM. Today, we meditated on Isaiah 55, and as we contended for New York City in prayer, I wrote down this prayer in my notebook.

Even My Faith Is Not My Own

Tue, 27 Oct 2026 03:11:26 -0400

God never allows my faith to fail.

Just last night, I was feeling rather sorrowful and asked God to send His people to encourage my faith. Then, just today, I went to the prayer room at Church of the City and happened to meet the mother of one of my small group leaders. We ended up grabbing coffee together at a café in Columbus Circle.

She might not realize how much weight her words carried for me, but what she shared spoke directly to what has been on my heart and what I have been lifting up in prayer to God. I believe God spoke to me through her.

Taking God at His Word

Mon, 26 Oct 2026 00:14:44 -0400

“It’s hard to give up something without the guarantee of something better.”

I was walking with my Bible study friends when one of them shared a line from a sermon she had heard. I thought it was so good that I had to ask her to repeat it so I could write it down.

Earlier this year, I decided to close my chapter in Baltimore and move to NYC without a job lined up or any certainty about what would come next. Certainly, there was no guarantee that the next chapter would be better. It was a bungee jump of faith and, frankly, the decision that required more courage than any other I have ever made.

Hineni

Sun, 25 Oct 2026 02:07:09 -0400

Today’s sermon at my church reminded me that the Holy Spirit is not a “power” for us to use, but a Person who wants to work through us.

I liked a story the preacher shared about someone who once asked him if he had a gift of healing. He said, “Nope, but I know someone who does: Jesus.” And for reasons I don’t fully understand, God chooses to work through people like us, with all our weaknesses and flaws, as His earthen vessels.

The Intentionality of God

Sat, 24 Oct 2026 02:27:24 -0400

Today, as part of Church of the City’s Send Saturday, a fellow participant and I walked around Central Park to pray and share the good news of Jesus Christ.

We got to talk with a man originally from Canada who had been traveling alone for over 80 days. At first, we hesitated a little to approach him because he was smoking a cigarette. However, my partner, in particular, felt that God had highlighted him to her, so we decided to approach him and ask if there was anything we could pray for him about.

Kill What Is Left of Me

Fri, 23 Oct 2026 00:35:28 -0400

I discovered a song called Kill What Is Left of Me by Theophilus Sunday, and its lyrics express the very prayer I’ve been praying for myself.

I pray for less of me and more of Jesus in my life. May I decrease so that He may increase. May God continue to help me die more and more to myself. May I continue to be humbled. And when my time on earth comes to an end, may I be forgotten, except for the testimony of His grace in my life!

My Prayer in Anguish

Thu, 22 Oct 2026 15:46:50 -0400

I had been discerning whether to share this deeply personal prayer, but I feel led to do so in the hope that it might encourage others.

I wrote this in July, during the most trying season of this year, and perhaps of my life thus far. What made this trial different from the others was that, instead of feeling as though I had been wronged by other people or that my suffering was the result of difficult life circumstances, I felt as though God Himself had led me to hope for something, only to let me down. In other words, I felt as though I was being played by God.

The Trial That Made Me Question God's Goodness

Wed, 21 Oct 2026 02:53:22 -0400

If you ask me which trial has shaken my faith the most, I would, without a doubt, point to my most recent one. It led me to question God’s goodness to the point that I began growing bitter toward Him. Calling it a fierce trial would be an understatement.

The experience involved the end of a romantic relationship that I genuinely believed God had arranged. I had fasted and prayed, asking for confirmations, and believed I had received them. One of those confirmations, in particular, felt as though it had been carried out by an angel. The man pursuing me also appeared to be certain. He even told me that the only reason he had moved from friendship (we had known each other for close to a year before that) to pursuing a relationship was that he felt prompted by God. He believed there had been confirmations along the way as well.

What Does Real Faith Look Like?

Tue, 20 Oct 2026 01:30:55 -0400

Today, I listened to two sermons during my walks to and from the gym and while weightlifting. The first was Men Marked by the Presence of God by Paul Washer, and the second was When Disillusioned, Focus on God by Peter Tan-Chi. Interestingly, both touched on the topic of faith. What does real faith look like?

Here’s a direct quote from Washer’s sermon:

It is so hard for us to fathom. I talk to my Pentecostal friends sometimes, and they all say that the greatest demonstration of faith is being able to raise the dead. You raise the dead in a Pentecostal church, you are your upper epsilon. They were saying that one day, and I looked at them and I said, raise the dead? I said, raise the dead? That’s nothing for a Baptist.

Lord, Make Me Fruitful

Mon, 19 Oct 2026 01:46:26 -0400

My sister and I went apple picking last Saturday. There was one apple tree on the farm that produced tastier fruit than the others, so we spent most of our time picking apples from that tree. We even told others they should pick apples from it! This got me thinking about what Jesus says in Matthew 7:

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

Lesson #4 From the Caleb Flynn Case

Sun, 18 Oct 2026 00:06:09 -0400

And the last lesson, perhaps the most important one, is about forgiveness. I watched a clip of Ashley’s father making a statement during the trial, in which he said that he and his family had forgiven Caleb. How do you forgive someone you believe murdered your own daughter, sister, and mother? Such forgiveness goes against our natural instincts. Yet what is impossible with man is possible with God. It is only through the work of His Spirit in us that we can faithfully reflect the character of Christ, including His heart of forgiveness.

Lesson #3 From the Caleb Flynn Case

Sat, 17 Oct 2026 23:05:14 -0400

I also read a news article about Caleb’s parents asking the judge for mercy for their son. His mother described him as someone his peers looked up to, who demonstrated responsibility, hard work, and diligence. To my knowledge, Caleb continues to maintain his not-guilty plea. Only God knows what truly happened. However, I found myself reflecting on a difficult possibility: if he had indeed committed such a crime and continued to deny it, how desperately he would need to humble himself and acknowledge his wrongdoing.

Lesson #2 From the Caleb Flynn Case

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 01:38:16 -0400

Another thing that the Caleb Flynn case has caused me to think about is the weight of appointing leaders in the church. We certainly ought to seek God’s will in every decision, big or small, and even more so in matters pertaining to the church. I believe seeking God’s direction in the process of discerning and electing leaders is essential because He alone ultimately knows the hearts of men. Even the first disciples sought God’s direction in a matter such as this, as seen in Acts 1:

Lesson #1 From the Caleb Flynn Case

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 04:14:11 -0400

Today, I learned about the Caleb Flynn case. From what I understand, he was a worship pastor, as was the woman he was allegedly having an affair with while his wife was still alive.

I don’t usually follow crime cases or news, but this one caught my attention. All I can say is that I pray God would lead him to godly sorrow and sincere repentance.

While reading comments from people online, I noticed that some questioned whether Caleb had ever been a Christian to begin with. And that made me reflect on what makes someone a true follower of Christ.

Many Times More

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 01:30:09 -0400

Reading Luke 18:29 hit my heart today:

And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”

I have said yes, and will continue to say yes, to wherever God sends me. For the past ten years, since I first left my hometown of Bangka Belitung, Indonesia, God has led me to live in various places: Australia for two years, China for a year and a half, Bali for six months, Malang for two months, Baltimore for four years, and now NYC, where I’ve been for about two months.

Can I Truly Say I Love God

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 22:31:55 -0400

I feel like a liar. It is so easy for me to say, “I love You, God.” In fact, I have been listening to a song titled I Love You Lord on repeat for the past few months. And yet, the Bible says that if I love God, I will keep His commandments (John 14:15). When I look at my own life, I have to confront myself with these questions: Am I sincerely seeking to obey His commands? What is my relationship with His Word? Am I seeking His wisdom and putting it into practice?

What if God Gives Me Abundance

Mon, 12 Oct 2026 00:47:35 -0400

I have been meditating on the parable of the rich fool in Luke 12:

“The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

The Humility to Receive

Sun, 11 Oct 2026 23:55:49 -0400

At one point in my life, my idea of an ideal life was to live all by myself in the middle of the jungle. I worked through this with a therapist over multiple sessions, but what really stuck with me was her reminder that even Jesus had 12 disciples! We are never meant to be lone wolves. Funny enough, this wasn’t Christian counseling, and I don’t know whether my therapist had any religious affiliation. I did mention to her at the beginning that my Christian faith plays a big role in my life, though. And praise God! He is sovereign, and He used my therapist to speak to me.

Healthier Adele

Sat, 10 Oct 2026 01:39:08 -0400

Earlier this week, my church small group talked about the things we appreciate more now than we used to. I shared two things with my group: health and community. If you’ve been reading my previous posts, you might have noticed that I’ve been reflecting quite a bit on the transformation of my desires. And so, I thought I’d share how I’ve experienced transformation in these two areas of my life as well.

My Growing Gospel Music Playlist

Fri, 09 Oct 2026 00:22:55 -0400

One change I have noticed in my desires is that I am no longer as interested in secular music as I used to be.

Mind you, I listen to a lot of music. I love music. I consistently listen to more than 2,000 minutes of music every week on Spotify alone. And I have found that you can never listen to too many gospel songs!

I have been adding songs to this playlist for about a year and a half, and I am still discovering new ones. It has now grown to over 50 hours of music!

More Like Jesus

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 19:17:00 -0400

I prayed that God would not give me what I wanted.

Here’s why. I have realized that many of my desires were not rooted in a desire to glorify God. I wanted a job that would elevate my social status, something my family could proudly brag about. I wanted an easy life filled with material abundance. I wanted a future partner who was capable enough not to need much from me, someone who would support me in doing whatever I wanted to do in life.

A Loss Worth Having

Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:31:52 -0400

I lost one of my Bibles.

My other Bibles mostly stay at home, but this compact Bible has traveled with me everywhere: on adventures around the globe, to work, on walks, and everywhere in between. It fits perfectly in my fanny pack. I’ve had it for a couple of years, and it has accumulated more notes and highlights than any of my other Bibles. It even has a fun sticker of Jesus holding boba on the cover.

The Weight of Authority

Tue, 06 Oct 2026 01:56:27 -0400

An important lesson I learned today is that having authority is supposed to cost me, not benefit me.

Luke 12:48 says:

“Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.”

The lesson came from a sermon that I listened to on my walk today titled The Child’s Responsibility to the Parents by Paul Washer. Here is a direct quotation of what he shared:

Numbering My Days

Mon, 05 Oct 2026 15:08:43 -0400

Sunday’s sermon was about having an eternal perspective, and the preacher mentioned the practice of writing an eulogy. I thought it could be a meaningful exercise to help me live more missionally, with eternity in mind. I want to number my days, weigh my decisions carefully, and fix my eyes on Jesus, as Pastor Sam Gibson encouraged us to do.

Psalm 90:12 says:

“So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”

Three Circles Gospel Presentation

Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:54:46 -0400

For the past two consecutive Saturdays, I have been learning how to share the hope that I have in Christ. Last Saturday, I participated in Send Saturday, organized by Church of the City in Manhattan. Today, I joined a half-day training led by Live Second Labs.

You might wonder, why am I doing this?

2 Corinthians 5:17–20 says:

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

We Want Revival in NYC

Sat, 03 Oct 2026 02:38:33 -0400

In August, I got to visit Dallas and check out the UPPERROOM prayer room. I was encouraged to learn that they have continuous live worship from as early as 6 in the morning until 8 PM, Monday through Friday, and on Saturdays too, although for a shorter time.

I remember taking a morning and afternoon off from sightseeing one Monday just to soak in the presence of God at UPPERROOM. I remember thinking to myself, “If I lived in Dallas, I would probably be here almost every day.”

The Goal Is to Love God

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 02:25:04 -0400

Today, I was listening to a sermon on biblical courtship by Paul Washer titled The Parent’s Responsibility in the Home. Please don’t tease me, y’all. I prayerfully want a family in the future, and as a follower of Christ, I think it’s important for me to deepen my understanding of these things.

There was one statement he made that really struck me:

“I don’t want to take anything away from all these things of just defining exactly what is the will of God, and how do we do this, and how do we do that, and how should we practice courtship, and what should marriage be like, and how should you discipline children, and all of that is very, very good. But if you get all that kind of stuff without the big thing, you’ve missed the whole picture and you’ve just become a bunch of sad Pharisees. You don’t want that. The goal is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.”

Not Striving

Thu, 01 Oct 2026 02:12:02 -0400

Today, I went to my Church of the City small group, where we discussed last week’s sermon on the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:13–26).

Galatians 5:22–23 says:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

One of the discussion questions was:

“The fruit of the Spirit is produced through union, not imitation; by beholding, not striving; and in community, not isolation. Which of these ideas challenges or encourages you most?”

I Will Write Every Day

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:53:02 -0400

Greetings from New York City!

I usually share my life updates and reflections on social media, but I’m hoping to transition out of them. I am not joking when I say that my Instagram posts and stories are already essay-like!

I’ve always loved writing, whether it’s simply typing behind a screen like what I’m doing right now, or sitting down to write an actual handwritten letter to a friend. I think slowing down and reflecting by writing down my thoughts helps me be a little more intentional about how I live.