11:11 1/11/11

*sheepish grin*

Have I ever mentioned that I love my job? God has been so good in
giving it to me. Oh, yes, there are the times when I want to strangle
myself, but there are more times when I want to tear up and when I'm
so joyful. Little ways that they grow and amaze me and how I can see
that God handpicked this position for me. I'm so thankful that I can freely speak of my awesome amazing God. It's a huge responsibility, though. I have these kids for
7+ hours a day and I have to constantly ask God for help so that I can
be an example of Him to them the whole time, 5 days a week. I mess
up...a lot...but God gives grace...a lot. More than a lot. Copious
amounts!! More than that actually...but you get the picture.

So, lately...oh yes, that part. The long awaited, much anticipated,
greatly desired Christmas break has come...and gone. That's right, big
schocker that time continues to move on. We're all bundled in our
coats, sweaters, scarves, tights, and leg warmers over here in frigid
Seoul. Snow and ice are piled up in every corner and on the streets,
and the clouds threaten to dump more. Several days of post-break
school have passed, and one of the first questions asked by the first
student to enter the class was "when is spring break?" I have to admit
that the question did cross my mind at one point when I was dealing
with the ever dreaded jet lag insomnia.

Christmas break was wonderful and relaxing! It started with an 8 day
trip to warm Taipei. The weather cooled down considerably over the course of the week, and that made Christmas day feel a bit more realistic. Christmas dinner
consisted of rice (in Asia? You never would have though) 2
dollar lean beef, and ice cream. There was no snow, tree, or lights,
but there were presents and much laughter. I toured an...interesting...Science museum, explored using the free transportation system which is actually quite extensive (aka my feet), climbed a mountain in the pitch black of night, met many interesting people, rode a glass-floored gondola a million miles up in the air over the side of a mountain and thought I would die because it was blowing in the wind but lived to tell the tale, and got much needed rest.  Christmas night I slept
for only 30 minutes in order to try to force my body to adapt to North
American time. It worked! The jet lag in America was minimal which is
unusual. Now I know how to work the jet lag system.

The wedding...simply scrumptious! A wedding fit for a queen. The
bride was radiant and happy, and all the hours of cutting, gluing,
tying, hanging, folding, lightning, draping, cleaning, sprucing, and
twirling paid off. The theme was snow flakes and a winter wonderland.
As the maid of honor (I was tickled pink that she asked me!) I was to
give a speech. Though I thought I would pass out or worse...I didn't
die! People enjoyed it, I didn't speak too fast, and I didn't tell my
life story (which sister is always cautioning me not to do.) the
atmosphere and food was wonderous. 

Seeing family was probably the best part. Although too short, it was
worth the money, long trip, and loss of sleep. More than worth it!
Just getting to hug my parents and laughing for hours with my brother and
sisters. A-mazing!!! I wished time could slow waaaay down or stop, but God gives grace. Absence really really truly does make the heart grow fonder. That is the truth.  I just keep reminding myself that in Heaven we'll be able to catch up and never have to stop catching up.

So my life is taking some curves. Next year, unless God changes my
course, I won't be in Seoul. Instead I'll be back in Canada preparing
to raise support to go to China. The more I dwell on this, the more
elated I become. I grew up in a valley, and I've seen towering snow
covered mountains. This task is bigger. Bigger than Everest. But
didn't my massively larger God say that even tiny faith can
move mountains? Yep. So, here I go, hand in hand with my ALL powerful
God. Yes, folks, He's UNSTOPABLE. Told it can't be done? Many times.
Reminded about how impossible it seems? That too. Cautioned that it
won't be easy? Oh yes. Reminded of God's amazing power, will, and
promises every time I open His word? Let me tell you that this trumps
all negative thoughts. I get butterflies just thinking about the final
product. Just thinking about going with God all the way without fear (well, maybe some) and fighting until the job is done. But whether or not this will
actually happen, my ultimate goal is to glorify God and to see Him
exalted, myself humbled, and souls saved. I'm prepared to fall...many
times. And I'm sure that I'll get angry, frustrated, lonely, worried,
but I know that each time I sin God will be there ready to forgive and
to remind me who he is. I'm very excited for the hard times to come because I know that they'll turn out amazing.  If you can't open the lock, take the door off the hinges.  

God was very good in 2010, and He will continue to be good in 2011.  I'm happy that I can look back and see how He's added more pieces to the puzzle so I can see a bit more of the bigger picture.  I'll keep those answered prayers and fulfilled promises in my heart so that I can remember them in the future and remind myself that He is always faithful. He will always be my strength, my real joy, my complete peace, my best friend, all I need and all I want.  

I'm posting this at 11:11 on 1/11/11 just for fun.

Moving Along

It's been a while, but it's been a great while. I've been home for a long time now, and I've had many adventures. The Lord provided me with the money to go to Virginia to visit a good friend for 10 days, and I had a blast! :) I've been able to help out a family in my church with babysitting, etc. and I'm really glad that God has chosen to use me in many small ways while I've been home. I was thinking that this summer would be slow and kind of dull, but it's proven otherwise. While at times I wish that things were moving at a faster pace, I'm glad I've had time to relax, sleep, and spend time with my family.

Because it's been so slow, I've found myself not facing so many faith and trust challenging ordeals...and in my bent towards sin, I've gotten relaxed in my time with God. It hasn't been a top priority. A phone call with a friend last night got that straight for me. We were both struggling with the same thing, and didn't really realize it. The devil did though. Usually the excuse is that I'm too busy to spend time in prayer and Bible reading, but this time it's that I'm too...not busy? That's backwards! I should have ample time to spend with God! More than usual, in fact. But, God forgives...and I love Him for it.

I'm reading a book called "What Do I Know About My God," and it's been great! I got a new perspective on how to study my Bible.

I can't believe that it's only 2 weeks until I leave for Korea!! God has been so good in working out all my visa junk. Because I don't get my diploma until the end of August, I will go over on a tourist visa, and then I will go to Japan (cool!) to get my E-2 teaching visa. That'll be fun. So not only did I not have to make the drive to Seattle for the interview, but I get to go to Japan too! God is good! :)

Well, since I accidently took a too long nap today, I'm not tired, but there are other things I can be doing (reading my Bible and praying!!!) so it's bye for now. Peace.

WOWZA!

I seriously haven't updated since March!? Wowza! Well, I've been up to a lot...not really actually. :) I have two days of summer school left, and then I'm officially graduated! I can't believe it...God has been sooooo good to me, and He's helped me get this far. It's in His strength alone that I do anything.

I've been packing for Korea, and my room isn't a pretty sight! I'm sending some things ahead of me, such as winter clothes, and they're all over the place. But, so be it! I'm so so so very much excited to go over there. I can't wait to see how God will use me. I wan't to be like gum. Totally able to be bent and twisted and smooshed and just pliable. Useable. Not stiff and unwilling. I want to be a testimony in my actions and words (but my actions more because people will remember those more.) I want to share Christ with everyone I meet. I don't want to be ashamed of His gospel. I have so much that I want to do for God, and while I'm only one person, He can do great things through me if He chooses. I'm not seeking fame and acknowledgement...I'm seeking 'well done good and faithful servant' from my Father. From the lips of my God when I see Him in Heaven some day. If He chooses not to use me in big ways, I'm willing to do whatever He has planned. I'm flexible! :)

Poems

GOD, I ASK

God, I ask why?
My human heart can't understand!
But I have confidence in you
I know that by your grace
I'm safe in your mighty hand

God, I ask where?
My feet don't know where they should go!
But I have confidence in you
That you will lead me where
Your perfect will has called me to

God, I ask how?
My mortal strength is gone, I'm weak!
But I have confidence in you
That you will give to me
From your hand all the strength I need

God, I ask what?
I do not have the words to speak!
But I have confidence in you
That you will speak through me
And that my tongue your grace will lead

God, I say yes!
Just send me where you need me now
For I have confidence in you
That if I give my life
You will use this sinner some how

ON MY KNEES

The power of prayer, I know it well
I see God's love at work in me
Though others doubt, in God I trust
I'll live this life upon my knees

It's pressing on when people fail
And waves arise and break on me
It's lifting up my voice to God
It's living life upon my knees

The power of prayer, to win the lost
To open blinded eyes to see
It's God who hears my earnest pleas
When I live life upon my knees

And when I reach that glorious shore
My Savior's face I'll finally see
I'll praise His name forever more
Before His throne upon my knees

Death Is

I just finished reading about John and Betty Stam, and of course I cried. THeir life was so short, but so passionate and they just really persevered. It's like...we shouldn't ask God to prolong our life here on earth so we can have more time to tell people about Him and see people saved, but rather we should beg Him to use what little time we have in a spectacular way. I WANT to go to Heaven, but I also want to stay here, but I know that no matter what happens, it'll be just right and perfect.

Death is precious life eternal

Free from sin and guilt and fear

Death is seeing Jesus' glory

Knowing He's forever near

Death is casting off our sorrow

And then taking up our crowns

Death is worshiping forever

As we lay our burdens down

Death is home, our place in Heaven

And a new name all our own

Death is seeing God exalted

Lifted high upon His throne

Death is saints who've gone before us

That we'll meet on streets of gold

Death is singing praise to Jesus

As His radiance we behold

Death is nothing save amazing

For we'll see our King of Grace

No, I have no fear of dying

When I've bravely run this race

As the sin on earth surrounds me

And I long for Heaven above I will wait for that great moment

When death brings me home to love

I Pray for Laborers

I've been praying a lot lately that more young people will desire to serve God on the mission field. There is so much we've been given, why can't we ALL give it back to God? People are so passive and uncaring...or rather caring only about their own comfort. Our mission is to spread the gospel to the whole world for Christ's sake. I hate sin...and the fact that it makes people not care about the things of God anymore. Oh, don't get me wrong, I'm faaaaaaaar from perfect in an sense of the word and I still mess up, fall down, and fail, but I'm growing a desire for GOd to use me, and it's ongoing. I want to pray for people to be lifted up and sent out to reap the harvest. The laborers are few...the Master asks us to go. We NEED to go.

In the Land of Fadeless Day

Here's a song that I've really come to love. It's an old, beautiful hymn that really speaks to my heart. I can't wait to go to this place where there is no night. Where God is, and I can praise Him forever without end.

In the land of fadeless day
Lies the city four-square;
It shall never pass away,
And there is no night there.

God shall wipe away all tears;
There's no death, no pain, nor fears;
And they count not time by years;
For there is no night there.

All the gates of pearl are made
In the city four-square;
All the streets with gold are laid,
And there is no night there.

And the gates shall never close
To the city four-square;
There life's crystal river flows,
And there is no night there.

There they need no sunshine bright,
In that city four-square;
For the Lamb is all the light,
And there is no night there.


What a beautiful description that can't even begin to describe Heaven's glory! I honestly can only imagine and then times my imaginations by infinity because that's how beautiful Heaven will be! I'm not afraid of death for Christ's sake. Pain will be temporary and nothing can compare to the glory that waits.