going deeper...

I posted a thought earlier...

"Be a person, not just a personality

The difference?: A whole world

What's needed: The effort to build deep..."

And really...this thought just simply continues in so many different ways

I'll try to be coherent in just one...
Many times we take a glance at a person...
and the "first impression" we get, gives us a feel...
& what usually happens is that we judge based on the surface,
it could be looks, could be personality (funny, charming etc)
and that just makes everything seem so cotton candy sweet...
or cloyingly ugly...

But really...truly, how often have we realised...
our "first impressions" were wrong, one-dimensional, flawed?
How we could feel this person was awesome, yet...
you realise later they were just two-faced, & you saw the nice one?
I think...that happens more than we wanna admit...

That said, i'm not an advocate for "first impressions"...
I believe in taking the time to go deep and to know more,
giving people time, and looking out for things that are not obvious,
the subtle things that people do not say or do not do...
that helps me form a better understanding of someone...
because we are all complex, unique and made wonderful! =)

Now...that was the base thought, time to go on tangents! =)

1) So...knowing the above...how much of OURSELVES do we REALLY know?
Do we know ourselves as a person? or just a personality?

Like...we can easily say one thing, but our actions do another...
& when that happens, do we understand how come?

I look, and i realise that i see many who build a personality,
funny, interesting, fun, charming, nice to look at,
yet they have neglected crafting character...their principles,
When i see that, I think it's abit sad...
because they look more like actors than real persons,
playing a part, more than LIVING a life

Questions are real, doubts vocalised, that's being authentic...
But sometimes, there is a lack of strength in the soul to show that "weakness",
or...the facade seems more important than showing those flaws...
I think that's why the first lesson Jesus gave to many was...
die to SELF, crucify it, surrender it...ultimately EXCHANGE it...
He promises that we are a NEW creation in Christ...
And that means we are being re-made!

So...to this tangent...i say...
resist the temptation to merely "look good",
but trade in the ashes, and watch God turn it to true beauty
succintly, surrender & exchange self for God's wholeness!

Which leads to tangent 2)
We know the personality of God, but do we know the Person?

When we talk about God is Love, what comes to mind?
A cushy pillow, soft lighting, sweet scent, feelings of joy...
all that is good and true, yet...if we just stop there,
we stop short of know God as a person,
and He is just a romantic figure to us...

Love...God's kind, is a very personal one...
He came fully divine, yet LIMITING His divinity,
in the person of Jesus...
He ate, slept, led reluctant followers, overturned tables,
performed miracles, showed incredible tenderness,
but was also uncompromising to pharisees,
He served, washed feet, ate with sinners,
associated with lepers & outcasts (samaritans),
and that Love at the end of the day...
shed sweat drops of blood, before that long road to calvary,
to become a sacrifice lamb for us...
THAT is LOVE...the PERSON...

Don't stop short just to know the wisp of love,
when knowing the DEPTH of Love,
the intensity of His undying Love is there for us

So...for tangent 2...
Know God...REALLY know Him...
as a person, because He has revealed himself in the bible,
He is NOT hidden, but...we have sadly...not bothered to know God.
Knowing, REALLY knowing God changes our lives inside-out

I feel there's so much to say...
yet...this seems a good place to pause...
Tangent 1) talks about ourselves,
Tangent 2) about God...
I wanted to do tangent 3) about others...

but...i think the quote i started with says it well...
& tangent 3) is just a natural extension of 1) & 2)...
so...let me stop here...

I no longer desire to just feed people with answers
I hope to see this light a fire within others...
that will spur them to want to know God better,
drink of His streams deeply, and bask in that fullness, completely

Abba, help us know you better,
clearer & more intimately,
Thank You that You are not hidden,
& that the person of Jesus is for us to know
May our heart beat in tune with yours
In Jesus' Lovely name,
I dearly desire & humbly ask,
AMEN