Everyday

The light hits the branches

Bare of flowers

For winter winds are

Howling still

And though it is bitter

Still there's sunshine

For Jesus Christ is

Ruling still

Let faith though small

Never die

For the way that Jesus leads you

Is always right

And though the snow

Comes down in blizzards

Let faith though small

Never die

The parched ground is cracking

Dry and dusty

In misery I

Cannot sing

And though it is scorching

Though I'm thirsting

My Jesus Christ is

A gushing spring

Let faith though small

Never die

For the way that Jesus leads you

Is always right

And though the sun

Is unrelenting

Let faith though small

Never die

I feel like I've been chomping at the bit to get back to China. Don't get me wrong, I love LOVE my job here, but China is still a-burnin' in my heart. A good friend reminded me that the grass is always greener on the other side. That we have to find contentment where we are now and not wish for something else and think that we'll be content once we have it. I've had to pray and ask for forgiveness lately about this. I want to just do what God gives me to do right here and right now where I am. I don't want to think that maybe life will really start once I get to China. It's already started...a long time ago. Besides, it's not about the place, it's about the souls. So Brooklyn, China, or anywhere else, it doesn't really matter. What matters is that I am glorifying God in EVERYTHING and telling others about salvation and God's love. End of story. So, I'm humbled again. Forgiven, and on my way to contentment. Again.

Life is still life around here. I was able to spend five whole days with my boys during their midwinter break. I don't remember getting a midwinter break when I was in school! Hmph. We went to the Natural History Museum, saw a sea lion show and sharks at the aquarium, hunted for shells (about 50 of them) on the beach, kicked balls at the park on a gorgeous day, and painted pottery on a rainy, lazy Friday afternoon. It was fun/tiring/challenging/rewarding/many other things. While the boys played at the park, I wrote in my journal and described the day. This is what I wrote:

The bare winter branches are just silhouettes against a cloudy sky. Patches of brilliant blue threaten to break through the gloom and the sun struggles to shine through the drab gray. Now it's shining on the page, casting a shadow of my hand and the pen. I'm sitting on the edge of a long meadow on grass that wishes it was green but is still brown in patches. Sometimes the breeze blows the residual leaves that litter the grass and send them upward in tiny tornadoes. It's been a very mild winter by NYC standards. We've only had three tiny dumps of snow that are nothing to write home about. So right now, on the verge of March and Spring, I sit in the park with the sleeves of my gray sweater rolled up while the boys kick balls around in the meadow. It's beautiful, and it's made my God.

And no matter how much I describe the scene around me, I could never even come close to painting an accurate picture of nature in its full beauty as God created it. The smells, the light and shadows, the feel of the wind, the sound of the branches rustling...never. And to think that God spoke this all into existence to be enjoyed by sinful humans who destroy it with their wastefulness. I'm so thankful for nature. Yes, even for rain.

I'm loving my recently purchased bike! Today I rode a measly 7.5 miles. I need to step it up if I want to ride across the country. I'll have to ride 60+ miles a day! When I'm so tired and I come to a big hill, I yell at myself inside my head, "How do you think you're going to ride across the Rocky's when you can't even climb this minuscule hill!?" It usually works. There's something about riding your bike that's so...freeing. Knowing that you don't have to pump dollars into your gas tank, that you're getting exercise while going much faster than walking or running, and that you can explore and explore the city to your heart's content. I found that riding in Korea really helped me to learn my way around Seoul. I knew many parts of that city like the back of my hand. The bike paths in SK were better than NYC, and I could ride on the sidewalk there, but it's good here too. I've been able to ride down to the beach, only about 8 miles one way, and around my neighborhood. Yes, having wheels is definitely a good thing!

A couple weeks ago, the pastor was speaking from Acts and the topic of his message was how God works in unconventional ways. He gave the examples of Saul, a hater and persecutor of Christians turned servant of the Lord on fire for God, Phillip, being sent to the desert to witness to the Ethiopian eunuch, and so on. I noticed that God uses many people throughout history that were just common, everyday people with little or no power or influence. I think of Esther, who was just an everyday Jew. God brought her to the palace to be the new Queen so that she could save her people. The little boy who was walking with his small lunch, and Jesus used it to feed 5000+ people. The widow with only one pot of oil left. Rahab. David. And the list goes on. People who were just common folks, living their lives. So many people, sometimes myself included, don't think that God can use them because they're not particularly smart, don't have some great degree, don't have any extra special gifts, have speech problems, are physically weak, etc. But God doesn't need someone who is smart and strong and powerful (though He can use those people as well.) God wants someone who is simply willing. It's not our power, anyways. It's God's power. If we just say "yes" and let God use us to carry out His plan, then we're good to go. God CAN use the "little people" to do big things. God will use the people who are given to him completely.

Jesus

You have saved me

Bought my life

With your own blood

Change me

Make me like you

In your likeness

Beautiful

I'm fully yours

I give my everything

For you to use, my Lord

This is my offering

My heart and life

My hands and feet

For what you've given me

I give you everything

Use me

For your glory

Use my lips

To tell your grace

Send me

Where you need me

In the valleys

Be my strength

I'm fully yours

I give my everything

For you to use, my Lord

This is my offering

My thoughts and words

My breath and life

For what you've given me

I give you everything

Time to do the dishes, fold laundry, and feed the dog. The kids are snug as a bug in a rug sleeping soundly. It was a great day today, and I'm looking forward to another great one tomorrow. Every day that we wake up and breathe another breath is a gift and a good day. Peace!