The valleys, storms, and heartache of this life will so quickly be forgotten when, in heaven, we look on the beautiful face of our Lord. He will wipe our tears that we cried for our sins and for the sins that plague the world. We'll stand in awe of his nail scars and be bathed in the light of God. A sinless place where we'll cast our crowns at the feet of God. No night, no fear, no sorrow. In thought of all this, how can we worry or complain through the fire now? We have so great a reward waiting beyond the gates of heaven. The beautiful face of our Lord. The words we long to hear if we have been faithful: well done. These thoughts make this life's trouble seem so small.
One more week. My first year done. Wow! 10 days until I leave Korea and move on for a while. My heart...I need to taste China. Strange as it might sound, I desire it. But God has a place for me elsewhere, and how can I argue with that? :) Absence really does make the heart grow fonder. Once I finally set sail for China and root myself in that great country, I'll not have to leave if God wills. If it's in his plan for my life. My life, though, I want it to be a life of a devoted servant. Quietly and faithfully serving my Master wherever he needs me. A life given to telling others of his love. Of serving others. My greatest need is that Christ is shown in me and not me in me. I've struggled with that all along, but God gives MUCH undeserved grace.
Does the extent of your sin overwhelm you? Not enough is that true for me. But when it does, wow. My heart feels like it'll break because...why? Why pardon me? Why see me filthy and vile and love that? God the greatest one. Who am I then to look on anyone, even the lowest, and judge and not love them.
I tell you what, this year has been up and down. But through all the loops...guess who has been faitfhul. That's an easy one. God. God who never changes even through life's many changes. God who never goes back on His word or betrays us or forgets our needs or leaves us to fend for ourselves. More and more I see each day that without God, where in the world would I be? I don't really even want to think of that.
I struggle with the thought that I haven't done enough for God this year. I haven't shared the gospel with those around me enough. I haven't given God enough of my time and love. I haven't worked hard enough in my job. I haven't shown Him in my life enough. But after all that, I get forgiveness. I get grace and mercy and the ability to confess my sins, have them forgiven, and move on to serve God more fully. That's pretty amazing. Thanks to God. I think of it as a piece of silver. It gets really tarnished...it's not pretty and looks pretty worthless. The more I do my own thing and not God's, I become covered in the grime of the world. Then Jesus comes and I ask him to take it away. He polishes me and once again, I'm bright and beautiful and Jesus' light is shown once again. The dullness is gone, and my life shows the brilliance of my God.
So here I go. Papers to grade, a house to pack and clean, people to love, and God to serve. Please pray that all my travels are safe this summer and that I can show God wherever I go.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Eating Popsicles on a Hot Day
If I don't get to see the world or make money or have nice things or live to an old age or have many friends or own a great house and car or get to do fun things or have an awesome job or get married and have lots of babies or live comfotably...if I never get to do any of these things, just let me serve God.
Over seeing the world, give me a place to serve Him where many do not know Christ. In place of making money, give me great security in knowing that God will provide for my needs. Instead of having nice things, give me contentment with what I have. If I don't get to live to be old, give me grace and strength to use every second to serve God. If there aren't many friends in my life, let God be my greatest friend ever. If I don't own a house or a car, let me be pleased with all God gives me. If I don't get to do many fun things, let me take joy in all the blessings Christ brings along, even the tiny things. If I don't have an awesome job, let me love where God put me, work at it with all my heart for God's glory, and use it as a witnessing tool. If I don't get married or have kids, let God be all I need. If I live an uncomfortable life, let me be grateful for every breath. Even if God chooses to give me these things, let Him be enough. Let Him be all I need, all I desire, all I seek. All I work for, all my contentment. Let him receive all my worship and praise.
I bought a bike. Its orange with a basket, a bell, and a light!! For those of you who wonder, I also bought a helemet. :) On Thursday, I rode for about 1.5 hours, Friday topped the charts at 4 hours, and Saturday was about 3 hours. Needless to say, I've discovered how much I love it and I've also come to know how sore one can get. Seoul really is a great city with some awesome bike lanes. It's my new fun hobby.
China calls me. Come to me, Anna. Haha ok not actually like that, but I still get butterflies when I think of going back to China. Oh, I realize it's communist and largely closed to the gospel, I realize the langauage is hard (as I study it), I realize the people I want to reach are poor and I might be poor ( If God wills), and I know that the government will oppose any of my attempts to spread the gospel. But I also know that God will go before me, working in hearts. Behind me, protecting me and growing seeds I plant, and beside me, comforting me, being my truest friend, urging me to continue till glory, showering me with strength, grace, and blessings, keeping my feet from evil, helping me serve Him, and helping me to be faithful in everything I do. So the souls who are on their way to hell, those are the people to whom
I'll be going. With God, for God, by the strength of God. No country is too hard for God. Nothing is too big for God.
School is over in only 3 weeks. Wowza...my first year of teaching...done? Where did the time go! I'll be setting sail for several countries this summer, and I couldn't be more excited. I know that's all I talk about, but I'm just sloop. Sloop? *shrug* don't ask me.
The weather here...oh so scrumptious! Warm and blue. It's Buddha's birthday parade today. Not that I want to say happy birthday false god who draws people away from the one true God, but I've heard the parade is stellar. I'm NOT riding my bike there, though. I'm letting my body have a break!!
Poem
Because of love you made the blind see
In matchless power calmed the storm on the sea
And you healed the sick and made the lame rise
You are power, you are God, let our praises rise
Because of grace you set barabas free
In matchless love you took the cross
For me
And you walked the road and let them
Nail you
You are freedom, you are good, let our worship rise
Shout his praise all the earth
Sing his glory
Let his name resound
He is mighty
Power and wisdom
mighty to save
Let our God be lifted
Let his name be praised
Because of love you made my heart see
In matchless grace gave precious life to me
And you broke the chains and gave me freedom
You are love, you are grace, let my praises rise
Over seeing the world, give me a place to serve Him where many do not know Christ. In place of making money, give me great security in knowing that God will provide for my needs. Instead of having nice things, give me contentment with what I have. If I don't get to live to be old, give me grace and strength to use every second to serve God. If there aren't many friends in my life, let God be my greatest friend ever. If I don't own a house or a car, let me be pleased with all God gives me. If I don't get to do many fun things, let me take joy in all the blessings Christ brings along, even the tiny things. If I don't have an awesome job, let me love where God put me, work at it with all my heart for God's glory, and use it as a witnessing tool. If I don't get married or have kids, let God be all I need. If I live an uncomfortable life, let me be grateful for every breath. Even if God chooses to give me these things, let Him be enough. Let Him be all I need, all I desire, all I seek. All I work for, all my contentment. Let him receive all my worship and praise.
I bought a bike. Its orange with a basket, a bell, and a light!! For those of you who wonder, I also bought a helemet. :) On Thursday, I rode for about 1.5 hours, Friday topped the charts at 4 hours, and Saturday was about 3 hours. Needless to say, I've discovered how much I love it and I've also come to know how sore one can get. Seoul really is a great city with some awesome bike lanes. It's my new fun hobby.
China calls me. Come to me, Anna. Haha ok not actually like that, but I still get butterflies when I think of going back to China. Oh, I realize it's communist and largely closed to the gospel, I realize the langauage is hard (as I study it), I realize the people I want to reach are poor and I might be poor ( If God wills), and I know that the government will oppose any of my attempts to spread the gospel. But I also know that God will go before me, working in hearts. Behind me, protecting me and growing seeds I plant, and beside me, comforting me, being my truest friend, urging me to continue till glory, showering me with strength, grace, and blessings, keeping my feet from evil, helping me serve Him, and helping me to be faithful in everything I do. So the souls who are on their way to hell, those are the people to whom
I'll be going. With God, for God, by the strength of God. No country is too hard for God. Nothing is too big for God.
School is over in only 3 weeks. Wowza...my first year of teaching...done? Where did the time go! I'll be setting sail for several countries this summer, and I couldn't be more excited. I know that's all I talk about, but I'm just sloop. Sloop? *shrug* don't ask me.
The weather here...oh so scrumptious! Warm and blue. It's Buddha's birthday parade today. Not that I want to say happy birthday false god who draws people away from the one true God, but I've heard the parade is stellar. I'm NOT riding my bike there, though. I'm letting my body have a break!!
Poem
Because of love you made the blind see
In matchless power calmed the storm on the sea
And you healed the sick and made the lame rise
You are power, you are God, let our praises rise
Because of grace you set barabas free
In matchless love you took the cross
For me
And you walked the road and let them
Nail you
You are freedom, you are good, let our worship rise
Shout his praise all the earth
Sing his glory
Let his name resound
He is mighty
Power and wisdom
mighty to save
Let our God be lifted
Let his name be praised
Because of love you made my heart see
In matchless grace gave precious life to me
And you broke the chains and gave me freedom
You are love, you are grace, let my praises rise
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Rewind
Sorry for not updating more, but things just get busy and I forget. I tend to have the memory span of a goldfish...about 3 seconds.
The weather is GORGEOUS here. Warm, only a tiny bit humid, a more or less blue skies all around. My hair tells me that the humidity is steadily growing. And my hair usually doesn't lie.
Only 28 more days until school is finished. Wow...a whole year down only by God's grace. It flew by like...something flying very fast. I know the summer will whip past too in a whirlwind of activity. I'll be doing A LOT of traveling...Spain, Italy, Canada, America, Seoul, China...wow. But I'm excited.
I was thinking about it yesterday and I'm excited to be able to read the signs and understand what people are saying. I don't miss America (of course I miss my family) but it'll be nice to not need a translator. I think I'm slowly becoming Asian... This could be interesting.
My chinese studies are coming along quite nicely. The language is beauitful and it just makes sense. The hardest part is memorizing the characters and getting the pronounciation down, but even that just takes memorization. God will help me, I know this.
We've been getting news letters from Vaughan Town recently. They sent pictures of the venue, and it's stunning. Very secluded but pretty. The rooms look stellar as well...we get our own rooms! I'll be sure to take many pictures. That is hoping that the Iceland volcano will stop errupting long enough for us to go and get out. I'll have my trust pink blanket lest we should be stranded in the airport.
I went bike riding at Seoul Forest yesterday. The weather was stellar and the trees were green and the flowers fragrant. A perfect day to enjoy the nature God created. I hadn't
rode a bike...riden a bike (been in Korea too long)...anyways, I hadn't been on a bike since I was young I guess. I thought I was goin to fall off and die, but I didn't! I triumphed! My bike was pink with a basket and a bell. A perfect combo and the bell was fun though maybe slightly overused. :) I went down by the 한강 (Han River) and rode again tonight. A perfect night for biking. I got to hold a parrot too!
I'm in the process of packing up my house so they can move my things to a different apartment while I'm away for the summer. Teachers seem to move a lot here, but I don't mind at all. I'll be literally right around the corner from the school and THAT I definitely don't mind!
God's just been so good. I'm so thankful still for the salvation of my student, and I'm still praying for the salvation of more. I know that even when someone seems so far gone and totally out of reach, they're never out of reach of my all powerful God. Nothing is impossible for Him, not even the hardest of hearts. I'm thankful and so humbled that he knows my weekness and many sins and broken promises and unusableness, yet...still he chooses to use me. It's something I'll never grasp, but something for which I'll be eternally grateful. Used by God...what an honor.
Sometimes I wish I could borrow God's eyes for just a second. Then I could see all the sin just as it is. Then maybe...just maybe...I would feel a greater sense of urgency to tell people about the Lord. I would see hell more clearly and I would not want to hide it for fear that they would go to that awful, Godless, burning, dark place. I hate the fact that I don't open my mouth more. I pray for forgiveness when I pass up an opportunity to tell someone about Christ's love. God forgives and gives more chances. It's what I was my whole life to be given to...the spreading of the gospel and good news of Jesus' death and humble service to God filled with praise and real love...it seems so unatainable really. A huge mountain I can't cross. But by God's grace I can.
That's my life in a nut shell as of late. I'm just loving being here. It's proving true more and more each day that as long as I get to serve God, I am content. That is, after all, why I'm here. To serve and glorify God. All the praise to Him!
Peace.
The weather is GORGEOUS here. Warm, only a tiny bit humid, a more or less blue skies all around. My hair tells me that the humidity is steadily growing. And my hair usually doesn't lie.
Only 28 more days until school is finished. Wow...a whole year down only by God's grace. It flew by like...something flying very fast. I know the summer will whip past too in a whirlwind of activity. I'll be doing A LOT of traveling...Spain, Italy, Canada, America, Seoul, China...wow. But I'm excited.
I was thinking about it yesterday and I'm excited to be able to read the signs and understand what people are saying. I don't miss America (of course I miss my family) but it'll be nice to not need a translator. I think I'm slowly becoming Asian... This could be interesting.
My chinese studies are coming along quite nicely. The language is beauitful and it just makes sense. The hardest part is memorizing the characters and getting the pronounciation down, but even that just takes memorization. God will help me, I know this.
We've been getting news letters from Vaughan Town recently. They sent pictures of the venue, and it's stunning. Very secluded but pretty. The rooms look stellar as well...we get our own rooms! I'll be sure to take many pictures. That is hoping that the Iceland volcano will stop errupting long enough for us to go and get out. I'll have my trust pink blanket lest we should be stranded in the airport.
I went bike riding at Seoul Forest yesterday. The weather was stellar and the trees were green and the flowers fragrant. A perfect day to enjoy the nature God created. I hadn't
rode a bike...riden a bike (been in Korea too long)...anyways, I hadn't been on a bike since I was young I guess. I thought I was goin to fall off and die, but I didn't! I triumphed! My bike was pink with a basket and a bell. A perfect combo and the bell was fun though maybe slightly overused. :) I went down by the 한강 (Han River) and rode again tonight. A perfect night for biking. I got to hold a parrot too!
I'm in the process of packing up my house so they can move my things to a different apartment while I'm away for the summer. Teachers seem to move a lot here, but I don't mind at all. I'll be literally right around the corner from the school and THAT I definitely don't mind!
God's just been so good. I'm so thankful still for the salvation of my student, and I'm still praying for the salvation of more. I know that even when someone seems so far gone and totally out of reach, they're never out of reach of my all powerful God. Nothing is impossible for Him, not even the hardest of hearts. I'm thankful and so humbled that he knows my weekness and many sins and broken promises and unusableness, yet...still he chooses to use me. It's something I'll never grasp, but something for which I'll be eternally grateful. Used by God...what an honor.
Sometimes I wish I could borrow God's eyes for just a second. Then I could see all the sin just as it is. Then maybe...just maybe...I would feel a greater sense of urgency to tell people about the Lord. I would see hell more clearly and I would not want to hide it for fear that they would go to that awful, Godless, burning, dark place. I hate the fact that I don't open my mouth more. I pray for forgiveness when I pass up an opportunity to tell someone about Christ's love. God forgives and gives more chances. It's what I was my whole life to be given to...the spreading of the gospel and good news of Jesus' death and humble service to God filled with praise and real love...it seems so unatainable really. A huge mountain I can't cross. But by God's grace I can.
That's my life in a nut shell as of late. I'm just loving being here. It's proving true more and more each day that as long as I get to serve God, I am content. That is, after all, why I'm here. To serve and glorify God. All the praise to Him!
Peace.
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