::Shine::

God's faithfulness shines through.

The Light of the world calls us. Answer the call.

Be a light.

Guarding Your Post

I came back from playing soccer yesterday evening with a valuable lesson.

Do you know the power of one? One out-of-tune string causes a guitar to sound bad. One musician with stomach upset can cause a song to be played in a slower tempo. One bad statement can hurt someone for a lifetime. One bad thought leads to a thousand crimes. One letter of appreciate lifts up one's spirit...

In the body of Christ, we are one body. Unfortunately, a body consist of many parts. Some like to play rock and roll, some like it jazzy and smooth. Some prefer playing A minor rather than a C major. Some goalkeepers like to play outfield. Some likes to play the off-side trap, some prefer playing it safe. Some like to hold the ball longer, some like to play the direct ball. Some like to sing the same song a thousand times, some just can't stand it after the 3rd time. Some like to be in the lime-light, some insist they're too ugly to be on camera.

We are all made with different temperaments. God intended it to be that way. We can't all be the same person. Imagine everyone having your name and looking just like you... God created everyone to be unique and different for a purpose, and no one can do that thing that you're created to do better than you!! One could have many different gifts, but everyone should only focus only on the things that the God has called them to do. "But coach, I can play so much better as the right winger. Let him play defence." Sometimes we feel we can lead better than our leader, preach better than our pastor, sing better than that back-up singer, play the electric guitar better than punk dude... And it could be true sometimes. But there can only be so many wingers and strikers, you stay and guard your post. You're playing for the team, you're playing for the Coach. So just stay and guard your post. Let others learn to do their part.

Let there be only one voice shouting the instructions, one captain leading the flow, one coach making the shots. You stay and guard your post.

Stuck...

In this journey of running with a God-given dream, or even our walk with the Dream-Giver, we often get stuck in some place... Somehow we become lost and confused, unsure of the road ahead or which path to take, or we just simply go blank... We know what the ultimate goal is, we know how to get there... At lease we though we did... And so we plan and we plan and we plan, but now we find ourselves caught in between our past and our future...

This time is the time to make a choice - shall we quit and give up the dream? Or shall we wait for the light that brings hope? Shall we get frustrated with our imcompetence? Or shall we continue to look to the Everlasting? Shall we drift away from our course, or shall we wait for HOPE?

As we are now here, stuck in a moment that we can't get out of, in the middle of running with a God-given dream or writing a script, I've concluded that we have probably strayed away from the source of Life. Maybe it's time to run back into the arms of rest and comfort, to regain our original identity by casting away our masks and laying down our crowns and our know-hows... To just know and be known all over again... To trust and lean not on our own strength... Sometimes we forget who ultimately and rightfully deserves to be in control.

And so as this runner / script writer gets stuck in this place where there are no words left to pen down and no story line to work with, I am reminded that the Dream-Giver is still waiting to be a part of this dream and this script-writing team... Oh boy, how could we miss that?? What a bummer... This time and the next, I must remember to remain stuck to the One who has stuck with this runner, this dreamer...

Back to the Basics

For the past few mornings, I've had an opportunity to jog around my neighbourhood. I've always wanted to develop this habit of waking up early and going for a prayer-jog around my neighbourhood. It's just that I've been unwilling to kick my late nights... I thank God for making things easier for me. Now I know how great it feels, I won't want to be miss these mornings again.

One thing I find strange though. Despite the fresh air and just a 15-minute run, I find myself tired and my body is unwilling to run further... But I play soccer, man!! I'm a soccer player, the type that works hard and plays smart. I could run all over the football field for 1 and a half hours, but I can't run for 5 minutes more?

I guess in a game, I get all hyped up by the desire to win, the passion to be a team player, the adrenaline rush of creating a flow... Jogging though, whell, it's important and necessary for building up stamina for the real game. Yes, a well trained stamina sustains you through the extra time and protects you from injuries... All professionals spend much amount of time for warm up, building muscles, increasing stamina... They have to go through lots of practices and trainings. You skip training, and you're not included in the squad. But it's just some boring routine, coach... There's no one there to cheer you on, no one appaulding your fancy skills, no one admiring the strong muscles of your legs... It's just you and your training, and thus, a lack of drive and motivation... We prefer to go straight onto the field and showcase our talents, get appreciated and feel loved.

God, help me to focus on the basics - leaning on Your strength, resting in Your presence, knowing Your words and doing only the things You asked of me in Your timing. Help to die to myself and be less concerned with the cheers and acknowlegdement of men, which are momentary. Keep my eyes focused on the everlasting... Let my run be an overflow of my walk with You. I want to live my life for the Dream-Giver, not the dream...