Day 24 – Dayoung Lim

1. What do you do for a living? (occupation/field of study)

I teach math at a public high school in Queens.

2. How do you like to spend your free time?

Mostly, I watch Korean T.V. shows, both variety shows and dramas. I also follow soccer news, mainly the Korean National team, K-league, and Tottenham Hotspur.

3. Share one interesting fact about you that most people don’t know!

I learned how to play golf before I came to the U.S but only went out to play on the field two times because I joined the high school girls' golf team. The sad part of this story is that the team was gone after those two games.

4. Do you have a favorite book in the Bible? If you do, which one is it and why?

I don't have a particular book in the Bible that I like. However, my favorite person from the Bible is Caleb. In Numbers, Caleb with Joshua said that the Israelites should conquer the land while others were against it. Joshua and Caleb became only the two people from the older generation of Israelites who entered Canaan because of their faith. I always admired Caleb's faith and courage that no one his age had. He was humble but courageous at all times. He was not the leader, like Joshua. Still, his wisdom, discernment, and humility when he does not have the position speak louder to me.

5. Is there a verse/passage in the Bible that has significantly impacted your life? If so, which is it and why?

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2 NIV

This verse always reminds me that I need to change how I think to see what God wants in my life. It's not always easy to do, but I'm thankful to have this verse as a good reminder.

6. Is there a prayer request that has been on your heart recently? If so, please share with us.

I want to be filled with the Holy Spirit at all times. I want to be discerning all the time and stand firm when the lies of the enemy attack me. I also want to have the courage to step outside of my comfort zone so that God can use me in a way that He planned when He created me, and I feel happy being used by God at the same time.

7. Tell us about how you met Christ? (feel free to share a brief testimony)

This question is always tricky since I can't pinpoint how I met Christ one specific time. But I know that God was always with me throughout my life. I always grew up in a church community, even though my parents didn't go to church when I was young. I loved going to church every Sunday and being part of a church community. When I moved to N.Y. from Korea when I was 15, things changed. I was able to find a church community that pursues God; However, living an immigrant’s life was challenging. Despite many challenges, I experienced that God protects my family and me all the time regardless of my circumstances. 

Towards the end of the college year and right after graduating college, my relationship with God went deeper. I finally realized that I'm a sinner and that only God's grace and Jesus' death on the cross saved me. Before then, I tried to be a good person and a good Christian for my selfish ambition. Christian values that I learned from church collided with the world values I knew from school. However, this changed my perspective that I do not need to be perfect because God who saved me is already good and perfect. Also, it allowed me to see what I was holding on to at the time and let them go. I confidently decided how to live my life, following God's way. Now, I continue to fight the battle of pursuing what God values and turn against worldly values. I pray that I will find more joy in pursuing what God loves than what the world loves.