the fragrance of Christ

I've always been the type, or have grown up just being used to being happy for other people. Living vicariously through the joys and sorrows of others that when it comes time for me to be happy for myself, it just doesn't seem to flow as naturally as I'd like it to. I see the joy reflecting off of others for the celebratory events taking place or the great things blooming forth for them in their lives that I radiate along with them. In like, these days the joy and radiant beauty that reflects off of me must be evidently seen by those who are happy for me. But am I in a state to actually be able to be happy for myself? To celebrate the victories among the defeats. To have faith among the confusion. To hold strong when I am weak. To hold on when everything is feasibly blowing away. It's the inner man reflecting the outer man. The message that Pastor Kim spoke on this past Sunday left me with a sense of clarity that I am going in the right direction. That the importance of the inner man (spirit/ the soul) highly outweighs the importance of feeding only the outer man, for just as we feed our bodies with food when we hunger or clothe ourselves with layers upon layers of clothing when we're cold, in the same way we feed our spirits with the word of God when we feel weak and clothe ourselves with patience and love when we feel most vulnerable. The work of character comes in a moment by moment, following through in the process that we learn the real outcome of what kind of character we have. Pastor Kim posed a question that left me chewing for days now, "When you read the bible or sit down to spend quality time with the Lord, does time go by real slowly compared to when you're doing things like watching movies or browsing the internet that speeds up time?" And if so, then the strength of the outer man highly outweighs the strength of your inner man. When the inner man's strength is strong then time with the Lord will be a joyous, can't wait to meet with God kind of thing. It's a regardless of what's going on around me in the outside world, I'm not discouraged or defeated by the remarks of what others strike at me. It's the kind of strength within that holds fast regardless of evidence or results being shown or not. It's the kind that believes when no one else seems to, sees when no one sees and loves when it's easier to hate. It's the Christ-like character that reflects from within that radiates to the outer man by actions and deeds.

-Live Productively

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
- 2nd Corinthians 4:16