Mercy Every Morning

[dannyjshim]

“Sometimes I go to God and say, "God, if Thou dost never answer another prayer while I live on this earth, I will still worship Thee as long as I live and in the ages to come for what Thou hast done already. God’s already put me so far in debt that if I were to live one million millenniums I couldn’t pay Him for what He’s done for me.”

A. W. Tozer

Tonight’s just one of those nights when I look into the night sky and see the beautiful stars. When I get nostalgic about secret adventures with one of my best friends, sneaking out and stargazing on top of his roof. And I feel thankful for the life that I’ve had so far. Even these small things. And not that my life is complete, but rather, that you have given me so much more than enough, God. If you never answer another prayer, if things do not go my way, I will always have more than enough reasons to sing and worship my way into eternity. 

[dannyjshim]

Everyday I have to ask myself:

- Have I gone the distance or have I fooled myself that I’m good to pass with the bare minimum?

- Have I gone to war against Satan or am I apathetic to the battle at hand?

- Can I look back with no regrets or are there things that I could have, should have, would have done today?

No Reserves. No Retreats. No Regrets.

- William Borden

To have a heart like this, God, firmly mold me.

[dannyjshim]

【BREAKING Tianjin “atomic-like” blast 6】 200K TNT @Tianjin Tanggu, China 天津大爆炸

6 SECOND CUTS THE BOUNDARY OF LIVE OR DIE. THE WHOLE SERIES ARE HERE: https://goo.gl/E1mYCR MUST SEE. BLESS. PLEASE SHARE IN YOUR facebook or other social me...

According to some common sense in the comments section - the person recording this is most likely dead. Same goes for anyone else who was within that blast radius. I just keep imagining what would go through my mind if I was in his position. “Holy crap. Oh shi-” And then I’m gone. Who can imagine when and where they will die. When that day comes, I pray that I will be following you with all my heart. My prayers go out to Tianjin China - and I sincerely pray that we will hear many miracle stories of people rising from the rubble. God, please bring order to our chaos.

[dannyjshim]

Progressive Fear of the Lord

Last night I was pretty scared that I might die. I was at a gas station in Dayton, Ohio when... Winds of up to 60mph. When heavy rain blows sideways. Sudden hailstorm. Crackling lightning every second and ominously dark clouds. I was paralyzed by fear at that Gas Station, should I just stay here and wait it out? Should I try to find a hotel and stay the night? Should I go now? Will it get worse? If I stepped outside for one second at the wrong moment, I was afraid a tornado would hit and I would be a goner.

In this, I was reminded of the book of Job.

Job 37:6-13 (NLT)

“He directs the snow to fall on the earth and tells the rain to pour down. Then everyone stops working so they can watch his power.The wild animals take cover and stay inside their dens. The stormy wind comes from its chamber, and the driving winds bring the cold. God’s breath sends the ice, freezing wide expanses of water. He loads the clouds with moisture, and they flash with his lightning. The clouds churn about at his direction. They do whatever he commands throughout the earth. He makes these things happen either to punish people or to show his unfailing love.”

Last night I sat in awe and wonder at the power of God. This is a God who is in control of this storm. He can calm and silence the winds and the waves (Matthew 8:24-27). I had a taste of what the disciples must have felt in that storm: LORD, Save us!!!!

As the storm progressed and the tornado watch continued, there was a lull. I checked the weather and I checked the path, and although there was still going to be heavy rain it looked like the worst had just passed. In my heart as I wrestled during that hour of waiting, my thoughts progressed from “This storm is scary. I am scared I might die. God, help!” to “God is powerful. God loves me. I will trust Him. To die is gain, to live is Christ.” 

I set out on the road again at around 12:30AM. (Maybe this was foolish, but I had faith). As I pulled into Michigan, it got scary again. But this time with every flash of lightning I did not tremble in my seat because of what it could do to me. Every flash of lightning reminded me of a powerful, loving Lord. I made it back to my apartment at about 4:00AM, praise God. Thank you Lord, that even though you are so powerful and no one can question you if you took my life last night or any night for these past 23 years, you decide to have mercy on me - that you decide to show your unfailing love to me. 

In Proverbs 9:10a it says “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom...”

Thank you that you are giving me a fear of you. And thus, I am beginning to know wisdom. 

[dannyjshim]

Exploring record stores. Eating from food trucks. Finding funny cards and a school of goldfish that need halp escaping. (Seaside, Florida)

[dannyjshim]

Golf Life Lessons

Sometimes you lose some balls. Sometimes you find some balls. 

[dannyjshim]

Litmus Test

Today at Crosspoint UMC here in Niceville, Florida, the pastor was sharing from Romans 12. One question he asked was ‘What happens when people actually start treating you like a servant?’ He was asking in the context of gauging our true motives in our servanthood. Buzz words like servant leadership all sound nice but what happens when you are actually treated like a servant? In relation with God, do we still want to serve Him if we start getting treated like servants? Is our motivation in serving God to gain acclaim and for people to praise our false humility? Or do we truly want to serve even if nobody says anything, no applause, no fanfare? 

Matthew 20:25-28

“But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Jesus came to serve. Not be served. He came to give his life as a ransom for many. 

Psalm 84:10

“ For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.”

I want to be content with my lot. Wherever, whenever for my God. 

[dannyjshim]

Daryl

Hi Daryl (not sure this is how you spell your name). Sorry for mis-hearing your name as Gerald twice. But thank you so much for approaching me. I know you asked me if I had any spare change. I know I said no. Then you asked for a dollar. I gave you a dollar. But the greatest thing is that you asked me if I could pray for you. I prayed for you. You told me that you had to get a bus ticket to go pick up things from your house because you were getting evicted. Because they raised the rent prices from $600 to $800. After praying for you, you told me that your heart felt lighter already. I wasn’t looking or hoping to serve anybody that day, but the opportunity literally presented itself to me. And you reminded me that I can always offer prayer, hope, and encouragement because God is with us in every season. I pray for you Daryl. I hope that you can find peace in this incredibly trying time and that you can find a home soon. Thank you for giving me that privilege to pray for you. Thank you God for being a constant source of refuge. Amen.

[dannyjshim]

SHINOLA

Today, I went to get my journal from monogrammed from SHINOLA. (Note: It’s apparently pronounced shine-ola) I told the woman who was helping me that I wanted to get my name monogrammed onto my journal (original, boring, yey). She asked if my name was spelled d-a-n-n-y or d-a-n-n-i which led me to ask her what her name was. Her name was Christin (pronounced like kristen). Her middle name was Joy. She said her parents named her that so when it’s backwards it’s Joy in Christ. Encouraging, to say the least, that there are parents and people who make decisions like that. For a person to have a name that is so intertwined with Christ. They can’t really ever forget (unless they change their name, but still). And to see that she still considers herself a Christian as well. One day, God. I hope I can make a similar decision and raise a child like that. 

[dannyjshim]

Well That Was Unexpected

“God I pray that you would help us to engage people on campus and that this campus would be a place where you are worshiped and adored. Please open up doors and opportunities for us to meet people and share and invite people to know You”

3-hour discussion/debate about God, Christianity, human nature, Values ensues with a pre-Christian. Later we walked by Mac, who Sam offered a place to sleep for the night. My heart is small. My vision is small. The way I work is not the way God works. The way I plan is not the way that God plans. 

Also God, please help me to rely on You & pray to You rather than immediately turning to how can I freaking convince this guy that he is wrong and that God is right? What argument can I lay out? What question can I ask to corner him and make him eat his words? I just think about my survival & me looking good. I need you God. I need you to break this poorly shaped person and form a new creation. Refine me. Consecrate me. Purify me. And teach me to be like You. 

[dannyjshim]

Eavesdropping

There is a couple next to me in Starbucks that has been arguing with each other for the past hour or so. Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. Two people unwilling to budge. Unwilling to give grace. Sweeping generalizations. “You need to change”. “You don’t understand”. “No you’re absolutely wrong, this is what people are like”. This is a picture of relationships and perpetual human nature without Christ. No conflict will be solved until one party humbles themselves enough to give grace, to give way, to stop it. And this is exactly why we need Christ to be the center of our relationships and our marriages. Our flesh & our minds are depraved, and we think ourselves wise. But we couldn’t be further from the truth. If I am ever given the privilege, honor, and responsibility of being in a relationship, I pray that Christ would be bedrock, cornerstone, foundation, anchor to it all. 

[dannyjshim]

Whatever a man can build, a man can break

[dannyjshim]

There Is None Like You

“I could search for all eternity long and find

There Is None Like You.”

[dannyjshim]

Radical Love

What kind of God would willingly bind Himself to sinful people? 

What kind of God would enter into a covenant dependent only on Himself, knowing that we will break and disobey it over and over again? Knowing that we will rebel constantly and choose to marry ourselves to sin that He so despises?

Is this not indicative of an impossibly monstrous love that defies all human reason?

[dannyjshim]

Fear of God

Have we lost a fear of God whilst in the laps of luxury? Is the ‘freedom’ that was purchased for us in fact crippling our ability to fear God? Thinking back to every complaint in the past few days. What am I entitled to? Am I entitled to a comfortable life - and to everything that my heart desires? It’s appropriate on this Memorial Day to remember the men and women who fought and died for this country and died to purchase our freedom. The Son of Man, Son of God who fought for my soul and died to purchase my freedom. Are they not worthy of respect? Is He not worthy of reverence, respect, worship? The Levites faithfully served at all times following all procedures. And here I sit thinking, ‘God, why do I have to go to ____ meeting? Why is life so hard? Why are there so many things I have to take care of?’. My vision is small. My fear is small. God please grant me a fear of you. I don’t want to be an ignorant, spoiled child.

[dannyjshim]

Have you ever

Been so still or laid your hand on your chest and suddenly become aware of your own heartbeat?

The soft beats in the background, unheard, unseen. Then you realize wow - this little piece of flesh is what keeps me alive. If this metronome of beats ever goes too fast or too slow, that’s the end of the life that I know.

We are fragile creatures, powerful yet mortal. And it makes me think of the end. Not to be dramatic, but my thoughts veer towards the end. How many more heartbeats are left in this chest of mine? And what are they beating for?

[dannyjshim]

Pray

for Nepal

for Baltimore

for this world that is wrestling with the echoes of sin

May Christ’s all-sufficiency & greatness be magnified as we groan for Heaven.