Tomorrow is my 31st birthday. It’s been an AMAZING and humbling journey so far, and in honor of that, I want to look back and think about 31 ways that I’ve encountered God’s presence in my life. I want to honor him for all that he’s done in my life. Not all of the ways he’s worked are things that (for various reasons) I can share many details about- don’t be alarmed at that. They are not in a certain order.
When I was still under 10 years of age, I got separated from my family at Sea World in Florida. Instead of being picked up by a weird stranger, a nice family found me and helped me to reconnect with my family.
When I was a senior in high school, God sent a good friend from Asia into my life and helped jump-start my interest in this part of the world, as well as helping me to see the value of a soul in His eyes.
I’ve been in 2 serious car wrecks (I wasn’t driving!), in at least one of which, the police told us we were lucky to be alive.
After several years of flying around the world with a fear of flying, I asked God to take it away this summer (I had to fly 9 times), and He did.
God has brought healing and forgiveness to a difficult and long-lasting situation involving extended family members and my home church in MI.
Two of my younger brothers are from Mexico. The way that they were brought to live with my family involved several small miracles.
God has begun to heal my brother.
Both of my parents have jobs at a time when the U.S. economy is terrible and when neither had jobs just a few years ago.
God has used me to bring others to know him.
I have experienced mercy, rebuke, healing, forgiveness and true love through the lives of my good friends who are too many to name. (If you think that this sentence should include you, then I’m sure it does.) I really love you guys.
I have a Grandmother who prayed before I was born that God would send one of her grandkids overseas.
My family heritage includes circuit-riding preachers, Underground Railroad workers and possible Scottish Covenanters. (Am I missing anything, Grandma?)
I have traveled to see God’s hand in at least 3 continents.
I have experienced God’s specific direction leading me to come to Asia and seen confirmation of that in many ways.
I am experiencing his intimate leading for the future now.
I have experienced mutual times of prayer and sp. encouragement with several of my siblings and my parents.
I have parents who through both their love and their love acted out in discipline have shown me what God is like.
Recently, God used some small details of my past which wouldn’t be understood or noticed by most to bring encouragement and healing to another.
God has shown me that 31 years of waiting and trusting can be worth it.
I have experienced through another the feeling of being treasured by God.
In the process of learning another language and culture, I have experienced the humility of Jesus growing in my life.
I have experienced the power of the Spirit to say the right thing at the right time to encourage someone or to share about my faith
I have seen healing in my father’s life.
God protected my two brothers in the Middle East.
25. I have sat under the teaching/guidance/shepherding of amazing men and women of faith around the world.
26. I have been part of and participated in a group of believers here (Great Love) who have taken me as their own and loved me- someone so different from them. In our unity and fellowship, I have encountered my Father.
27. In learning how to follow another, I am experiencing God’s leading.
28. God’s power has helped me to overcome sin in my life.
29. I have traveled by myself in countries where I didn’t speak the language and felt God’s leading to reach my destination. (Cipganti, Esther!!!)
30. I have experienced God’s authority in taking away things I didn’t want to give up, and I praise Him.
31. I have had the awesome privilege to see the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights/ Bottom of Form北极光 in my hometown several times.
There are too many to count and more to come…
In all things, my Father is God. I love you- thank you for this life!
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Monday, November 14, 2011
Early Thanksgiving
This morning I did some stretches while listening to some cds of Ken Rudolph (http://www.kenrudolphministries.com/sermons/) that my mom sent me ages ago when I first came back to Macau.
One sentence really stuck out to me: "Don't let the little things become big things." Ken was preaching on Genesis 2/3 and how the fall of man came because instead of focusing on all the things that were given to them; Adam and Eve listened to Satan's lies and began to think about the one tree of which they could not eat.
Thanksgiving fights off the preoccupation to be self-centered; to moan about what we don't have. I will be traveling during the holiday next week, so it seems like a good idea to kick-start Thanksgiving now, not only for next week, but as a life habit.
These are some top people that I'm thankful for in my life:
- My mom and dad, who sang me old hymns and told me stories at night, who taught me to learn with curiosity about the world, and who (along with the rest of Oceana County), taught me that hard work is a blessing (even the 70+ hour harvest work weeks at PFI) :)
-My grandmas-- Grandma Moul who teaches me by example never to complain and still prayers for me every day, Grandma G who showed me how to be faithful to God my whole life, and Gma P, who sacrificed to help out with my school bill at Moody
-My brothers and sisters- I'm so thankful that we support each other now as adults- in making family decisions, when times get tough, through prayer and understanding...I'm proud of who we are becoming
-Karen N.- for your faithful example of trusting that God is good even when life events seem to say otherwise and your prayers for me over the years.
-For my Bethel team from years ago: Phil, Ginny, Paul, Caye, Becky, Mike, April, Sandy, Jackie, Tiff, etc...- you guys taught me that serving God together is so powerful and so fun. You showed me how to pursue God and His work wholeheartedly. I hope I have a chance to have an experience like that again.
-For my Moody friends and roommates: Becky, Laurie, and Em (and Sara)- Coming home to hang out with you guys and fellowship was always the highlight of my day. Thanks for loving me with Jesus' love for so many years
-For Linda and Carol, Jim and Terry- who parented me through years at school
-For Esther- you've become a true spiritual sister to me ...thanks for all the Skype talks that keep me going these days :) (And to think our first conversation was just about Korean TV!)
-For Jan- What am I going to do when you retire? You always keep my thinking on track, you love me and you know when to scold me too. Thanks for being a real friend here!
Jesus, in these members of your Body, you have showed me yourself. Thank you for all my blessings!!
One sentence really stuck out to me: "Don't let the little things become big things." Ken was preaching on Genesis 2/3 and how the fall of man came because instead of focusing on all the things that were given to them; Adam and Eve listened to Satan's lies and began to think about the one tree of which they could not eat.
Thanksgiving fights off the preoccupation to be self-centered; to moan about what we don't have. I will be traveling during the holiday next week, so it seems like a good idea to kick-start Thanksgiving now, not only for next week, but as a life habit.
These are some top people that I'm thankful for in my life:
- My mom and dad, who sang me old hymns and told me stories at night, who taught me to learn with curiosity about the world, and who (along with the rest of Oceana County), taught me that hard work is a blessing (even the 70+ hour harvest work weeks at PFI) :)
-My grandmas-- Grandma Moul who teaches me by example never to complain and still prayers for me every day, Grandma G who showed me how to be faithful to God my whole life, and Gma P, who sacrificed to help out with my school bill at Moody
-My brothers and sisters- I'm so thankful that we support each other now as adults- in making family decisions, when times get tough, through prayer and understanding...I'm proud of who we are becoming
-Karen N.- for your faithful example of trusting that God is good even when life events seem to say otherwise and your prayers for me over the years.
-For my Bethel team from years ago: Phil, Ginny, Paul, Caye, Becky, Mike, April, Sandy, Jackie, Tiff, etc...- you guys taught me that serving God together is so powerful and so fun. You showed me how to pursue God and His work wholeheartedly. I hope I have a chance to have an experience like that again.
-For my Moody friends and roommates: Becky, Laurie, and Em (and Sara)- Coming home to hang out with you guys and fellowship was always the highlight of my day. Thanks for loving me with Jesus' love for so many years
-For Linda and Carol, Jim and Terry- who parented me through years at school
-For Esther- you've become a true spiritual sister to me ...thanks for all the Skype talks that keep me going these days :) (And to think our first conversation was just about Korean TV!)
-For Jan- What am I going to do when you retire? You always keep my thinking on track, you love me and you know when to scold me too. Thanks for being a real friend here!
Jesus, in these members of your Body, you have showed me yourself. Thank you for all my blessings!!
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Today
6:08? - alarm rings... hit it... dreaming about a lizard running around my house (it's never happened)
6:15- get out of bed- put water on to boil
6:30- drink coffee while putting on running clothes
6:35- head for 松山 to run- today's goal: 35 min at Level 2 heart rate...music: Matt Redman (thanks Ranny)
7:50- head back home, yogurt and tofu, more coffee, Mark 6- Jesus in his hometown (Father, don't ever let
me assume that I know who you are and limit You in my mind)
8:45- head to school
9:00 - First 5C conversation of year - combined class: 43 students, missing 14 chairs, last minute changes
(Father, thank you that I have more confidence this year--be firm but kind, be flexible). Prayer from
Ps. 139, miscommunication questions, tongue twisters Verdict: success. Whew.
9:50- preparation to promote the English Corner activities at lunch- registration is next week
10:30- 5B Grammar- every native speaker's gauntlet. Clear, I think. Interesting, I think. Flying colors?
Whew.
11:30- set up table for English activity promotion....GO, GO, GO
12:30-lunch with a student, good conversation
1:30- helping to promote English activities (so hot--- all the kids sweating buckets, and me too)
2:00- take everything down
2:30- take notes about what went well and what didn't, print tomorrow's supplies
3:30-6 lesson prep and composition correction
6:30- Jerusalem bookstore- birthday gift for a 90-year old man, thinking about small group on Sat. and sharing at school on 16th, San Miu grocery store
7:30- wash running clothes, taco salad with no chips while watching Eric L's story in Chinese, wash dishes
8:30- 5 min. talk with E. on Skype, check email, grading papers, co-worker phone calls
9:45- blog
NOW :)
All day- praying....
Father, thank you for this busy day. It was a good day. It was a day I could never have had in past years- so many things and details, but now I know I can let go and worry less. I know You will lift me up and guide me. Thank You that Your grace is sufficient in each moment. Thank you that I never walk alone because You walk with me.
6:15- get out of bed- put water on to boil
6:30- drink coffee while putting on running clothes
6:35- head for 松山 to run- today's goal: 35 min at Level 2 heart rate...music: Matt Redman (thanks Ranny)
7:50- head back home, yogurt and tofu, more coffee, Mark 6- Jesus in his hometown (Father, don't ever let
me assume that I know who you are and limit You in my mind)
8:45- head to school
9:00 - First 5C conversation of year - combined class: 43 students, missing 14 chairs, last minute changes
(Father, thank you that I have more confidence this year--be firm but kind, be flexible). Prayer from
Ps. 139, miscommunication questions, tongue twisters Verdict: success. Whew.
9:50- preparation to promote the English Corner activities at lunch- registration is next week
10:30- 5B Grammar- every native speaker's gauntlet. Clear, I think. Interesting, I think. Flying colors?
Whew.
11:30- set up table for English activity promotion....GO, GO, GO
12:30-lunch with a student, good conversation
1:30- helping to promote English activities (so hot--- all the kids sweating buckets, and me too)
2:00- take everything down
2:30- take notes about what went well and what didn't, print tomorrow's supplies
3:30-6 lesson prep and composition correction
6:30- Jerusalem bookstore- birthday gift for a 90-year old man, thinking about small group on Sat. and sharing at school on 16th, San Miu grocery store
7:30- wash running clothes, taco salad with no chips while watching Eric L's story in Chinese, wash dishes
8:30- 5 min. talk with E. on Skype, check email, grading papers, co-worker phone calls
9:45- blog
NOW :)
All day- praying....
Father, thank you for this busy day. It was a good day. It was a day I could never have had in past years- so many things and details, but now I know I can let go and worry less. I know You will lift me up and guide me. Thank You that Your grace is sufficient in each moment. Thank you that I never walk alone because You walk with me.
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