Blog of Bily Xiao

mmm. Confidence is a key character trait for me. Much of it stems from faith - hope in that which is unseen - an assuredness which carries peace. Of knowing who I am, my place in this world. Not fully, of course, but to an extent which instills confidence. To know I am weak in flesh but simultaneously made strong in Christ. My worthlessness and simultaneous worth in Christ.

Anyway that’s the mainspring of my confidence. But it certainly expresses itself in ways not so spiritual as well, pervading every facet of life. Confidence is pretty key. And it is definitely different from pride. Although ya… sometimes people mistake it for pride. And also, I must admit, sometimes leads to actual pride.

Chicken or the egg, I don’t know.
I believe/have confidence that I can change the world in some way. And I believe that everyone has that potential - if only they’d realize and seize it.

a post in response. Christobelle. Victro.

Church is not just a place where Christians with individual faith gather from time to time for worship and for instruction. If it is not a living community family which edifies and brings to reality the life of Christ, then it has failed on a critical point.

Randomly dug up one of my old blog articles. Perhaps those who went to Winter Retreat will find it helpful.

——————————-

Commit the will to God, and immediately you will find Him near. Not because He has moved any closer, for He has always been at hand, but because you have finally allowed yourself to be near.

Read the rest of this entry »

It’s attitude, not opportunity.

Never put up a facade. Be that better person you show yourself to be.

Knock knock knock.

Two girls. They showed up at my apartment today. They were making rounds fundraising for school. Soon to graduate, they want to study at a state university but face financial difficulties. They are part of low income families. As students with 3.4+ GPA wanting to attend a state university, there was a program for them to obtain a $10,000 scholarship, if only they could get a certain number of people to sign up to a local newspaper free 30-day trial. Before they explained much more, I told them how I would like to help if I could, but had to turn down the offer–I’d be leaving the Valley within a week and wouldn’t be around. They asked if I could support by way of donation. I hesitated and stuttered for a moment, but decided I would, returning a moment later with some cash. They accepted it gratefully, smiled, and turned to leave. As I closed the door to resume my day I felt a strong desire to help them. But I really didn’t know how…

Knock knock knock, again.
Read the rest of this entry »

He is no fool who gives that which he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose - Jim ElliotIt is a quote and maxim of sorts that has been on the banner of my blog for years. It was the capstone of encouragement and inspiration in my reading of “Shadow of the Almighty”–a biography of Jim Elliot’s life by his wife Elizabeth Elliot.

Following upon my previous post I find now as appropriate a time as ever to update. The new banner quote follows from one of the thoughts in my previous post:”Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”

The verse is from the end of 1 Corinthians 13 — a famous chapter on Love. And it precedes another verse very special and deeply engrained in me by spiritual revelation and personal experience. I cannot help but to also share it with you: “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

But back to the main… I’ve updated not because the former is of less meaning to me now, but the new one has recently touched my heart. And hey, what better words are there to use as a quote than those from the Word of God.

What beauty there is in the world. The Lord gives me such joy, simply looking around me, sitting here at Central Park of Santa Clara. Such beauty there is in the delicate stance of the geese. They stand in a row, on one foot, cleaning themselves. It is a curious sight from where I am–kneeling and watching but a meter away–to see the occassional and so-human teetering and constant re-balancing through their knees. I thought only people were creatures of such struggle. But even the highly evolved and created animals of our world–put through the rigors of natural selection and despite all its adaptations: they are not perfect. And yet… it is so perfect… There is such an ease and wholesome perfection to the way things are.

I’ve sat at the park pond for a while and have been filled with so many thoughts I regret not having brought my long-untouched journal to write in. It would have felt so peaceful to capture all the precious thoughts God had given me in those moments in my personal life storybook. But I settle now this online blog (also long untouched). And this way there is the benefit of having it be accessible by virtually anyone. If anything I wish I could share the depth of this experience now with everyone. But though it is online, I will try now to write exactly as I think. Not to an audience. That has always felt rather forced. Calling upon unnatural effort.

Read the rest of this entry »

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. - Romans 13:8

Spiritual breathing.

We need it as much as physical breathing, if not more.

.

Inhale. Exhale.

.

Take in the goodness of God. Exhibit the signs of life.

——————

The signs of true life:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. - Galatians 5:22