So... as you can tell from the gap between December 18 and today, I didn't succeed with my Post-a-Day in 2011. Honestly, I'm pretty happy that I made it all the way to the 352nd day of the year. New Years Resolutions, as I understand, usually don't make it past February or March. So yay.
And now I'm sitting here at the airport on Ash Wednesday- another day when people start "resolutions". This year, I didn't make any New Years Resolutions, and I've been trying to think of something to give up for Lent over the past week, and really haven't landed on anything. SIDE: Lent doesn't really hold any spiritual significance for me- I treated it like a 46 day (I don't give myself a break on Sundays as is done in traditional Lent) opportunity for a secondary New Years Resolution. And really, as I reflect on these first couple of months of 2012, Lent/NYR doesn't quite fit where the Lord has me.
See, He's been revealing to me lately the importance of, and my absolute need of, taking things one moment at a time. I know that sounds a bit cliche and "carpe diem"-esque... but that's really not what it is. I mean in terms of striving for holiness, walking in the Spirit, living in surrender, abiding in Jesus. It's so easy for us to say things like "Lord, I will NEVER do _____ again!" or "Lord, help me to be so filled with the Spirit that I never leave Your side til the day I die!" And I suppose the intention is good- we really shouldn't sin, ever again, and we really should walk fully in the power of the Holy Spirit for a lifetime... But if we're being realistic, the choice to live in the Spirit and not in the flesh is made moment by moment. And if I think of too long a time period, and too long of a commitment like the "Lord, I will NEVER do _____ again!", it's really rather overwhelming. The reality is, I don't have the power on my own to make such commitments. But I CAN choose to trust in the Lord every hour of every day. Whenever my heart begins to wander (ALL the time), I can stop, release my selfish desires/frustrations/distractions to Jesus, and let go of all control to the leading of the Holy Spirit- the very Person of God Himself living in me! And if I wander to the point of sinning in a significant way (which, if we're honest, will probably happen often), then I don't torture myself over having tained my commitment to 70 years of spotless living with one blemish... Instead, I can hand that over to the Lord, who isn't surprised by my mistakes and shortcomings, who keeps reminding me that Christ's death and resurrection have already completely paid for my sins and my sin- for every sinful act/thought/word, and even for my overall state of depraved sinfulness. It's DONE.
If this isn't how I live, then I'm setting myself up for self-hate, torture, and works-drivenness. So, Lord, I want to choose to live by Your strength, moment by moment. And I need You even just in making that choice moment by moment. Thank You for the reminder in Your Word that if I say I have no sin, I am a liar. That it's better to just be honest about my sin and confess it to You because when I do, You promise to forgive me my sin and cleanse me of all righteousness. Man... that's awesome.
So yeah, this year, I'm not gonna lent. It's not that Lent is a bad thing. It's just that right now, where I am in my walk with the Lord, I need to not make these time-based commitments to do or not do certain things. I'm still learning how to walk in the Spirit day by day!
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Own Your City
#352
I was sitting at a bakery today having some pastries with my friends Bob and Allison, talking about life and how their spiritual lives in the big city have been like, and I was just so happy, feeling so blessed to have such awesome friends around the world with whom I can have chats like this that are so encouraging and refreshing to my soul. I really hope I can develop a community like that in Honolulu. These guys really own their city in their hearts, as do Parker, Kristi, Jensen, and other friends I've seen out here. I wanna get on it. Lord, thank You for putting me in Honolulu.
I was sitting at a bakery today having some pastries with my friends Bob and Allison, talking about life and how their spiritual lives in the big city have been like, and I was just so happy, feeling so blessed to have such awesome friends around the world with whom I can have chats like this that are so encouraging and refreshing to my soul. I really hope I can develop a community like that in Honolulu. These guys really own their city in their hearts, as do Parker, Kristi, Jensen, and other friends I've seen out here. I wanna get on it. Lord, thank You for putting me in Honolulu.
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Full But Restful?
#351
Today I took the day completely off of anything work-ish. But in the last day and a half, I have been able to hang out with my USC Cru friend Allison, another USC Cru friend Parker, two AGO brothers Rob and Jensen, and my sister's boyfriend David. It's been a very full but enriching, restful, and relaxing time out here. And it was FREEZING today. Loved it. Definitely have been experiencing joy in the Lord today as I took a day of rest. Looking forward to a day of productivity and intimacy with Jesus in the Park tomorrow, Lord willing!
Today I took the day completely off of anything work-ish. But in the last day and a half, I have been able to hang out with my USC Cru friend Allison, another USC Cru friend Parker, two AGO brothers Rob and Jensen, and my sister's boyfriend David. It's been a very full but enriching, restful, and relaxing time out here. And it was FREEZING today. Loved it. Definitely have been experiencing joy in the Lord today as I took a day of rest. Looking forward to a day of productivity and intimacy with Jesus in the Park tomorrow, Lord willing!
Friday, December 16, 2011
Soak in His Goodness
#350
Wow. Another much-needed 11-hour night of sleep! Man, I must be TIRED. Got to start a bit of processing today. Sat down at a Max Brenner (favorite restaurant in Melbourne- apparently there's one here! Totally randomly stumbled upon it. YUM!) and journaled for a while. God is really just so good. He knows exactly what I need, when I need it, and wants me to enjoy Him and enjoy the blessings He's given me. Why do I so often choose things other than His glorious love?? I don't get it. So yeah, the processing process (??) has begun- this past semester affected me probably more than I think. Looking forward to going through it with the Lord.
Wow. Another much-needed 11-hour night of sleep! Man, I must be TIRED. Got to start a bit of processing today. Sat down at a Max Brenner (favorite restaurant in Melbourne- apparently there's one here! Totally randomly stumbled upon it. YUM!) and journaled for a while. God is really just so good. He knows exactly what I need, when I need it, and wants me to enjoy Him and enjoy the blessings He's given me. Why do I so often choose things other than His glorious love?? I don't get it. So yeah, the processing process (??) has begun- this past semester affected me probably more than I think. Looking forward to going through it with the Lord.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Gotta Get AWAY To Relax
#349
Got to sleep a long, full night's sleep for the first time in soooo long! And this after a great time catching up with my buddy Parker from SC whom I hadn't seen in like two years! Really encouraging convo with him about what the Lord has been doing in each of our lives. So glad I get to sleep on his floor for a few days! :) Chill day in the city today- getting a lot of my admin work done. Woot.
Got to sleep a long, full night's sleep for the first time in soooo long! And this after a great time catching up with my buddy Parker from SC whom I hadn't seen in like two years! Really encouraging convo with him about what the Lord has been doing in each of our lives. So glad I get to sleep on his floor for a few days! :) Chill day in the city today- getting a lot of my admin work done. Woot.
Keep Cutting It Close
#348
I had a fantastic time having dinner and hanging out with my family last night. This morning, yet again, I got to the airport a tad too late (literally 20 or 30 seconds) to check in my bag, and so they bumped me to standby on the next flight. Reaaaaaally frustrating, but I got a seat on the next flight out, thank God! Plus, at the gate, I became friends with two SC students flying home for Christmas, and got to encourage one of them to pursue his faith for himself (told him to check out Cru hehe), after he shared that he had distanced himself from Christianity after he left for college since it was just something his parents did.
I had a fantastic time having dinner and hanging out with my family last night. This morning, yet again, I got to the airport a tad too late (literally 20 or 30 seconds) to check in my bag, and so they bumped me to standby on the next flight. Reaaaaaally frustrating, but I got a seat on the next flight out, thank God! Plus, at the gate, I became friends with two SC students flying home for Christmas, and got to encourage one of them to pursue his faith for himself (told him to check out Cru hehe), after he shared that he had distanced himself from Christianity after he left for college since it was just something his parents did.
Not Quite Paradise
#347
It's been rainstorming a lot lately, with torrential downpours and crazy winds. So I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised when the traffic this morning was absolutely atrocious due to a mudslide. No, seriously, the freeway wasn't moving. I was so late that they had given my seat away (they ended up giving me another one), but I just barely made it. But like 15 people ran up to the gate after me, and apparently even the flight attendants were all late because of the flooding traffic issues. Crazy. At least I got on the plane! And it was a pleasant flight :) Got to talk to the couple next to me about God and such, and let them know that He loves them.
It's been rainstorming a lot lately, with torrential downpours and crazy winds. So I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised when the traffic this morning was absolutely atrocious due to a mudslide. No, seriously, the freeway wasn't moving. I was so late that they had given my seat away (they ended up giving me another one), but I just barely made it. But like 15 people ran up to the gate after me, and apparently even the flight attendants were all late because of the flooding traffic issues. Crazy. At least I got on the plane! And it was a pleasant flight :) Got to talk to the couple next to me about God and such, and let them know that He loves them.
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