Post One Ninety Three // Ups and downs

I think Christianity is oftentimes misunderstood. We think Christians are all about the ups: when we are praying and reading the Word consistently, and when we have a great relationship with the Lord. But I think it’s very little about those high points, and mostly about the way we handle the low points of our lives. I can have great seasons with the Lord. It’s not hard to worship and be joyful when I am in those seasons. But it’s infinitely more difficult to remain steadfast and faithful in the Lord when nothing is going my way.

A still small voice: ”I have blessed you in this because you have been faithful to me in it. Will you be faithful to me in more things? I will bless you in everything you choose to be faithful to me in.”

On a similar note, I have these “ups” and “downs” in my thought life. I have all of these realizations when I’m doing well spiritually. I try to highlight these times, making notes, bookmarks, and whatever I can to try to remember it. But I think it’s not about these realizations as much as the re-realizations. No matter how hard I try, I can never remember all of the valuable lessons that I’ve learned and that I never want to forget. But I always find myself re-realizing the same truths, made even more valuable and memorable each time I re-experience them.

It’s never as easy as a single experience.

-dlim

Post One Ninety Two // Multimediocre

A random yet insightful thought I had the other day.

I think I’m a pretty mediocre guy. There are few, if any, things that I actually excel in. In every spiritual gifts test I’ve taken, I’ve turned out to be pretty evenly spread out in my gifts. I remember having a complaining heart when I realized this about myself. I was simply decent at many things, rather than being outstanding at a few. I wanted to be amazing at even just one thing, so that I would be respected and credited as a more significant person.

But I remember hearing “when you are decent in many things, I receive the glory. when you excel in a few, you receive the glory.”

-dlim

Post One Ninety One // When I don’t know

I think the best evidence of love is empathy. You know you love someone when you share everything with them. Sure, we share our time and possessions. But anyone can share these with people he does not love. I think the real evidence of love is empathy: when we share each others’ burdens, joys, sadness, anxieties, prayers, and passions. It is simply not possible for me to be “alright” when a friend I love is downcast.

-dlim

Post One Ninety // A Vision

For small group today, we went to a park near ANC to spend individual time with the Lord. I lied down under a tree and closed my eyes. “Here I am Lord. Speak, for your servant is listening.”

“Don’t close your eyes.”

I opened my eyes and looked at the tree that was shading me from the sun. His leaves were bright green: much brighter than those of any tree around him. He unashamedly spread them out, hiding none of his glamour. Birds sat on his branches and sang. They had built nests upon his rough yet sturdy arms. The wind blew, but he simply looked all the more beautiful, as the breeze swayed his arms peacefully to and fro. Not a single leaf fell to the ground. He was firmly rooted and stood his ground. He did nothing spectacular, but his strength and life was undeniable.

“See the bright green leaves. I have called you out to stand out among them all. Don’t hide any of the blessings I have given you. Be joyful in the toughest times, so that you may be a good example. Don’t be afraid to show your true self, because I have made you to be beautiful.

Be kind, faithful, and unchanging so that others may bless you and find their home in you. Abide in me, in my Word and in prayer, so that you may not only endure the trials, but be made even more glorious through them. As not a single leaf on this tree falls unless I command it, so you shall endure due to my great mercy. And don’t be so desperate in seeking out your desires. As the tree is nourished plentifully, so I shall provide everything you need. You need not frantically search, because I am Jehovah Jireh.”

Lord, empty me everyday that I may be completely filled with you.

-dlim

Post One Eighty Nine // Prayers

1. Fake to others: We say one thing, thinking something entirely different.

2. Joylessness: We do one thing dreadfully, we do one thing in vain.

3. Fake to oneself: So many things we do, and different motives behind them all.

4. Purposelessness: We do and do and do, and lose the true purpose behind it all.

5. Selfishness: My work is done: I deserve a break.

6. Cowardliness: What if they reject me?

7. Laziness: I don’t want to commit to something I can’t back out of.

8. Unforgiving: I hate him/her.

-dlim