Saturday, September 12, 2009
Give This Christmas Away
Operation Christmas Child shares the love of Jesus through Christmas presents and the Gospel message. You can help share God's love by participating in this wonderful and fun project! For more about the project, visit their website or my post from last year.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Swimming Lessons
Two months after the swimming pool in our neighborhood opened, I finally had a chance to visit a few weeks ago. While enjoying the pool, I learned a few lessons:
Go
Before this trip, I had not gone swimming for about 5 or 6 years (so long I could not even remember). When I went swimming in the past, I always had trouble breathing. So, in addition to not having a bathing suit, knowing that I could not breathe right was a major deterrent for swimming. But having finally found a decent suit, I found a time when I was the only person in the pool. So I went, thinking if I found myself incapable of swimming, I would only embarrass myself.
When I went down the pool, however, it felt so good! The water temperature was great, and better yet, the breathing problem I had worried about was non-existent. It had gone away as if it had never happened!
Relax
During my first tentative lap, I was so tight that by the time I finished, my muscles were sore. Then I sat down and remembered (!) that if I just relaxed my muscles, the water would help me float. I tried and, of course, the water did help. So instead of fighting against the water and depending on my own strength, it was so much better and enjoyable to let go of myself and let the water help carry me.
Know
Before going to the pool, for some reason I thought the pool was deep (I was thinking 12 feet). But when I went, I realized the deepest part of the pool was not even 5 feet. It was good to know that I most likely would not drown.
Practice
I swam for about 30 minutes, with each lap getting easier as I relaxed more. I still need to practice to swim longer and better, but it was a great (re)start!
In a way, swimming is so much like faith. In life, all kinds of worries and imaginative obstacles keep us from moving forward. But when we step out and dive in, we quickly learn that our worries are not grounded. After swimming, I did end up with a sore left arm, but it was only from a lack of swimming practice.
A couple of years ago, our pastor back in Florida shared a metaphor about faith and swimming: Christians have two choices, one is to stay in the kiddie pool, that is, on the sideline; the other is to jump into the real pool and swim freely in the ocean of faith.
I am ready to jump into the pool!
Go
Before this trip, I had not gone swimming for about 5 or 6 years (so long I could not even remember). When I went swimming in the past, I always had trouble breathing. So, in addition to not having a bathing suit, knowing that I could not breathe right was a major deterrent for swimming. But having finally found a decent suit, I found a time when I was the only person in the pool. So I went, thinking if I found myself incapable of swimming, I would only embarrass myself.
When I went down the pool, however, it felt so good! The water temperature was great, and better yet, the breathing problem I had worried about was non-existent. It had gone away as if it had never happened!
Relax
During my first tentative lap, I was so tight that by the time I finished, my muscles were sore. Then I sat down and remembered (!) that if I just relaxed my muscles, the water would help me float. I tried and, of course, the water did help. So instead of fighting against the water and depending on my own strength, it was so much better and enjoyable to let go of myself and let the water help carry me.
Know
Before going to the pool, for some reason I thought the pool was deep (I was thinking 12 feet). But when I went, I realized the deepest part of the pool was not even 5 feet. It was good to know that I most likely would not drown.
Practice
I swam for about 30 minutes, with each lap getting easier as I relaxed more. I still need to practice to swim longer and better, but it was a great (re)start!
In a way, swimming is so much like faith. In life, all kinds of worries and imaginative obstacles keep us from moving forward. But when we step out and dive in, we quickly learn that our worries are not grounded. After swimming, I did end up with a sore left arm, but it was only from a lack of swimming practice.
A couple of years ago, our pastor back in Florida shared a metaphor about faith and swimming: Christians have two choices, one is to stay in the kiddie pool, that is, on the sideline; the other is to jump into the real pool and swim freely in the ocean of faith.
I am ready to jump into the pool!
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Grace
Grace is when I fell asleep on the couch and actually slept well (Hubby was out of town).
Grace is when I woke up at 5am, still tired, and God was still there for me when I fell back to sleep instead of spending time with Him.
Grace is when I woke up later at least 10 minutes late, but somehow managed to leave for work only 5 minutes later than usual.
Grace is when I got through heavier traffic and got to campus only 10 minutes later than usual.
Grace is when this one parking spot was available when logic said it should have been filled.
Grace is when God chose to be patient with me and provided for me even though my weak flesh chose sleep over Him.
Grace is God's unmerited favor.
Grace is when I woke up at 5am, still tired, and God was still there for me when I fell back to sleep instead of spending time with Him.
Grace is when I woke up later at least 10 minutes late, but somehow managed to leave for work only 5 minutes later than usual.
Grace is when I got through heavier traffic and got to campus only 10 minutes later than usual.
Grace is when this one parking spot was available when logic said it should have been filled.
Grace is when God chose to be patient with me and provided for me even though my weak flesh chose sleep over Him.
Grace is God's unmerited favor.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)