<PROUD>

Inner Beauty

I don’t intend for this to be a long blog, but I did want to say how proud I am of my little sister. She’s hardly little anymore; she is almost eighteen years old. My sister has graduated high school, receiving her diploma. She did it! After all these years of dreading the work and reading, it’s completed. But that’s not the main reason I wanted to write this. It’s to say how proud I am of her faithfulness to God, and the inner beauty she has in abundance. I’m not saying she’s perfect, but she has definitely grown up to be the fine, young woman she is today. She serves all of us selflessly, making me food, cleaning, and extending encouragement. I have never walked out of the house for work or come home from work feeling unloved. She quietly listens to all I have to tell her. Her laugh never fails to make me smile. My sister is the best in the world. Sorry, world!

I tried to keep this short and with only one picture, at the request of my sister. Until later, readers!

3-in-1

Training, Growing, AND Fighting

     For those who have waited so long for this post, you are finally able to catch up on what has been happening in my life for the past month or so. I guess the first place to start is where I left everyone hanging in the last blog. For those who haven’t seen me in person, I have been spending considerable time on my off hours exercising. The reason for this is that I have decided to train for an Olympic(-size) Triathlon. Not only does this give me a goal to work toward, but it will be something to show for my effort and be proud of later in life. After exercising as much as I do, it has become a habit, and I might even consider it more of a need now. Those days I don’t get to exercise, my body feels miserable. So perhaps I’ll end up blogging about the experience of a triathlon in the upcoming months when I attempt one.

     As for some other news about what’s been going on, my coworker and I are on a sort of a wager, I suppose you could call it. We agreed that if I grew a goatee for the month of May, he would buy me lunch anywhere I chose. Now why would I pass up an offer like that? I figured I’d take advantage of this opportunity to get some Indian food, which happens to be a very expensive restaurant. Let’s see if their curry measures up to the standards of authentic! And since you all are probably hoping for a picture, I might as well post one.

     And since I always tend to have some deep meaning to all my post titles, I cannot disappoint. There is significant point that seems to be constantly coming out in the messages at church recently. It’s what the pastor refers to as the “unholy trinity”: Satan, society, and the thread of flesh from my old self. We are meant to be constantly training ourselves for battle with other believers, feeding on God’s Word so we can grow, and fighting our way through the day, always prepared for battle. This comes to be so evident in our daily lives when we realize that it’s missing. Isn’t it true that we don’t realize what we have until it’s gone? I’m thankful for my best friends that have been spending so much time with me and valuing my friendship ever since their return to Arizona. It’s always wonderful to know I have such friends! As well as those who have waited so patiently with me while I am very behind in my emails and messages on Facebook. (Thank you, sister, for your loving blog! Of course I am happy that you posted it on your blog rather than FB. Hahaha. =D And I will finish the second one as soon as I can. I will also take your suggestion about me photobombing it. =P) And after being so busy, it reminds me how crucial it is to feed on God’s Word daily. I can’t go a day without it. It makes me wonder how any Christian can expect to survive in a secular workplace or atmosphere without spending time with Jesus, their best friend and Lord. As I have seen evident in my own life, without that time, the workplace can suck me dry until I come home feeling drained on the inside.

There you have it. Three small blogs into one.

     So now I’m headed off to do some more work. I’ll be posting again soon though. And it’ll be a short post, but oh well. Later peoples!

On Duty:

~(Saving Lives)~

1 Tim. 4:16; Col. 4:5-6; Jas. 1:21; 5:19-20

I know most of my readers have been waiting a very long time for me to post another blog. Well, here is your wish. It has indeed been a long time, but I have quantifiable reasons as to why this is delayed. The first, as some could guess after looking at the picture, is that I got my old job back at the YMCA lifeguarding and teaching swim lessons. I’m more than thankful to have a job right now, especially since many people do not. For some reason, God has me here, not by my choice, but because He must have something for me here. After working for over a month already, things at work have started to strain a little, but I keep working for Jesus rather than people. I hope and pray constantly that my work ethic would emanate Christ in me to my coworkers and patrons. Now onto the actual title of this blog, saving lives…

My reason for titling this blog post “On Duty: Saving Lives” is not only because that is what I do for work, but because it is a Christian calling. When certified with CPR/AED, First Aid, and Lifeguarding, we sign the paper with the responsibility to respond in emergency situations whenever present. This means we are always “on duty,” whether or not we earn a paycheck for what we do, or receive praise. It is the same with a Christian life. We are responsible for helping those we come into contact with that need help, whether or not we are “having a bad day” or think the person is beyond saving. It is my responsibility to do everything I possibly can to save a person’s life (although Jesus is really the one doing the saving; I’m just being responsible with my calling to bring Jesus to the lost and dying), not make the call if they are dead or worth saving. I wake up each day knowing I am now on-call and on-duty wherever I am. Since those without Jesus are in need of being saved, I make the effort to bring the Gospel to them through word and deed; for those in distress, I offer a helping hand; for people who need someone to listen to their problems, I offer an attentive ear; and if I don’t know the answer, I send them to someone higher. The parallels between my work and my faith have been incredibly poignant and profound. The time I’m given on the stand during the slow hours at work provide me a surplus of time to think about what God wants to do in and through me.

Recently, it’s been laid heavily on my heart to witness to my coworkers. I keep praying every day that God would present the opportunities, and that I would be faithful with the ones that I’m given. There are often many actions and words that directly defy and trample on the authority of God in the workplace. Who is going to be that light? If I don’t do it, who else will? For my Christian friends reading this blog, please pray that as I have taken many opportunities to witness to my coworkers, their ears and hearts would be opened to the Truth.

So many other things have been going on as well. Since being back from Malaysia, I have desperately missed curry and spice in my food. American food does not compare. I also don’t have much time to spend talking to people online, as most of you have noticed. I try to take messages and emails as quickly as possible—which may at times be up to a month. (I’m so sorry to those who have had to wait that long! You know who you are.) For other news, I exercise every day to keep in shape and do better at my job. That includes swimming 2000 yards, jogging 1.5 miles, and whatever else I have time for that day. If you want to know why else I am putting my body under so much strain… You’ll have to wait for the next post to find out! =P God bless and hope to hear from you all soon. Much love!

Stepping Up

     As God would have it, life has taken an unexpected, but pleasant turn of events. Most everyone who is possibly reading this blog knows how much of a passion I have for music. And I’m sure that most of you know that I’ve been wanting to go for a Master’s Degree in music performance. It still sounds like a dream to me to be able to get that, but in reality, the only reason I would really want to get that degree is because of all the learning opportunities that would be presented at a university. I had applied, waiting to hear back from the university, and I did… Only an email that said I still needed to set up a live audition before March and go to the school for a day. Umm… It’s been a long time since I truly practiced, so that audition would have to be a miracle, along with the money to actually drive all the way to the school for one audition. The more I was thinking about it all, the less peace I was feeling.

     I felt as though I was letting God down for not following my passion; I was letting my parents down by not pursuing my music to at least get a Bachelor’s Degree; I was letting my friends down who had supported me all the way to make it into university; but most of all, I was letting myself down for not making it all the way to the end. But then God stopped me. Why would I really be getting the degree after all? I want to develop this passion and talent for music that God has given me, but I could always just study outside of a university and probably get just as good of an education. Then it hit me, “Why should I have to go to a university?” I thought about it for a while. The thought of starting a career that I would enjoy and just investing in people’s lives around me to draw them closer to God, that would be enough for me. It thrilled me to think about it, and yet so freeing at the same time. I checked my motives with God’s Word and talked it out with Him. So I should do just that!

     So here is the news for all my friends that are on the other side of the world: I’m looking for a job and waiting to see what God has next for me. Right now, I’m seeing how I can serve Him where He has currently placed me, and hoping to then be on the move until He fulfills the work He first started in my heart. Who knows what will happen next, but I’m excited for this next chapter in my life. Much love to all!

-ATTENTIVE EYES-

An Attitude Check

GALATIANS 5:22; 2 TIMOTHY 1:16-18

     I have always thought of kindness as an amiable disposition or a mild temper. But looking at the definition of the word kind, this understanding of kindness comes fourth. “Of a benevolent nature” really seems to fit the definition best, especially after looking up the definition of benevolent. It is a gentle demeanor that is actively looking for the benefit to others rather than personal gain, always seeking to help others. This is where it seems to be the catch: all of this type of fruit of the Spirit emanates completely from a character or demeanor. This is not something that I can produce but simply act in response to. When God is actively working in my life, this will be one of the many results—or should I say, “outward displays.” People won’t be able to overlook this character.
     This is one fruit of the Spirit that I really enjoy showing to others because it can meet both the spiritual and physical needs of a person. Onesiphorus was mentioned in Paul’s second letter to Timothy because of his kindness to Paul, seeking to help meet the needs that were there. We are encouraged in Philippians 2:3-4 to “count others more significant than ourselves,” looking to their interests just as much as, if not more than, we would our own. Is this the type of character I’m displaying?
     Kindness is often linked to a showing of mercy, which is one of the gifts of the Spirit. Romans 12:8 states, “…or he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.” This is where I can often get hung up. I want to show kindness to others, but what good would it be if it’s not done in cheerfulness. If none of my service to others is focused on Christ, and instead focused on my current circumstances, of course I can’t be cheerful in ministering to others’ needs. When I walk around others throughout my days, I want to remember to be attentive, not in my own bubble of what needs to be done. But on top of that, I want God to check my attitude before I ever set foot outside my own door to make sure that my own heart is right before going to help others. It’s my desire to keep an attitude before God and man that is pleasing to my Savior. So how kind will I be acting this week as a result of my love for Jesus?

[BRAIN FOOD]

Fruit for Thought
GALATIANS 5:16-26

     Have you ever seen a tree make an effort to produce fruit? Neither have I. The tree simply focuses on absorbing the nutrients it needs from the roots. It’s the same in our relationship with Jesus. We can’t produce the fruits of the Spirit out of our own effort to change, it comes naturally (John 15:5,8,16). As long as we are walking in the Spirit, we will have the Spirit flowing through our lives (Gal. 5:16).
     Here’s a really cool example. Enoch simply walked with God (Gen. 5:22-24). It doesn’t say that he tried to do anything extremely significant. Instead, Enoch made God his focus and friend in everything. And what did God do with that? He actually walked with Enoch! What would our lives look like if we were able to say, “I walk with God every moment of the day”? Shouldn’t that be our reality and mindset all the time? After all, Jesus said He would “never leave you nor forsake you” (Gen. 28:15; Heb. 13:5). How will I respond to that this week?

New Beginnings…

     After a little bit of deliberation on my part, and the kind suggestions of my peers, I decided a blog that outlined some more personal thoughts was definitely in order; not only because of the new year, but a change is happening in my life that was not on some sort of resolution: it simply is my new resolution for life. It is my hopes that my blog can get all of my readers thinking while feeling encourage, and the same time help me to organize my own thoughts clearly enough that I can be meditating on these things more (Psalm 1:1-3).