Saturday, April 22, 2017
Psalm 40
I couldn't help it. Like a magnet to the side of the fridge, I was being drawn closer. I actually had gone to work because after my Saturday afternoon nap it occurred to me that I still had to get my sub plans done before Monday's trip to Taejon for a KILA librarian's meeting. Ok. That means put the cooking, cleaning, and laundry on the backburner (some of that litterally) for the moment till I could get the plans done and get back to my apt and work on some quiche for a couple of new mother/baby meal trains for colleagues who recently gave birth.
It was about 7:30 on a Saturday night. I had walked the 50 metres from my apt bldg to the school library, and started working on a few things. I soon noticed music, worship music resounding (not just resonating) in the hallway outside of the library. I remembered that The Nations church, which meets in our auditorium on Sundays does a once a month prayer meeting on the 3rd floor in one of the classrooms. I could feel that anointing from two floors below, and knew I wanted to be in there, more than I wanted to be busy being a Martha with my laundry, cooking, subplans, etc. I finished the sub plans as quickly as I could, and took the elevator up where I saw everyone with head bowed praying, and waited for my opportunity to sneak in as unobtrusively as possible.
It took nearly an hour and a half of my previously planned evening, but it was a time of real ministry. I needed to be in fellowship in the very building where I work, praying with other believers, worshiping our LORD, and being reminded that God will not leave me nor forsake me. Any feeling or perception that He might have left me, or that I am beyond help, is an illusion of Satan's making. It was a needed reminder to keep pressing in and waiting (Ps. 40) for God to give me the breakthrough I need. Discouragements had me down and with eyes focused on others, on my problems, and on myself and had me carrying a tremendous weight.. I was gently reminded tonight to put my sights back on Him. He is the one who can bring me out of the pit and set my feet on a rock and establish my goings. So, I wait patiently on Him once more, my God, my Redeemer, my Deliverer.
My little schedule change? A divine appointment. Did everything on my list get done tonight? Nope. But I believe His agenda for me was accomplished this evening.Everything that needs to get done will still get done. Lord, help me to submit my schedule to You every day.
It was about 7:30 on a Saturday night. I had walked the 50 metres from my apt bldg to the school library, and started working on a few things. I soon noticed music, worship music resounding (not just resonating) in the hallway outside of the library. I remembered that The Nations church, which meets in our auditorium on Sundays does a once a month prayer meeting on the 3rd floor in one of the classrooms. I could feel that anointing from two floors below, and knew I wanted to be in there, more than I wanted to be busy being a Martha with my laundry, cooking, subplans, etc. I finished the sub plans as quickly as I could, and took the elevator up where I saw everyone with head bowed praying, and waited for my opportunity to sneak in as unobtrusively as possible.
It took nearly an hour and a half of my previously planned evening, but it was a time of real ministry. I needed to be in fellowship in the very building where I work, praying with other believers, worshiping our LORD, and being reminded that God will not leave me nor forsake me. Any feeling or perception that He might have left me, or that I am beyond help, is an illusion of Satan's making. It was a needed reminder to keep pressing in and waiting (Ps. 40) for God to give me the breakthrough I need. Discouragements had me down and with eyes focused on others, on my problems, and on myself and had me carrying a tremendous weight.. I was gently reminded tonight to put my sights back on Him. He is the one who can bring me out of the pit and set my feet on a rock and establish my goings. So, I wait patiently on Him once more, my God, my Redeemer, my Deliverer.
My little schedule change? A divine appointment. Did everything on my list get done tonight? Nope. But I believe His agenda for me was accomplished this evening.Everything that needs to get done will still get done. Lord, help me to submit my schedule to You every day.
Monday, April 17, 2017
A Funny Thing Happened at the Rest Area Today...
Donut. Honey Fritter from Dunkin Donuts. It was on my mind, so much so that as I drove on IC35 making my way north toward Daejeon (and ultimately back home to Suwon), I was doing a slow drive by at each rest area to see if they had a Dunkin Donuts there. First one...no donuts. Second one...no donuts. Third one...no donuts. Fourth one...Deogyusan, near Muju, a ski resort town...saw that orange and pink sign I had been looking for. Woo hoo! Parked the car, and walked across the rainy parking lot in my capris and a Mets shirt with no jacket to the covered area where all the concessions were. I spotted another coffee shop, and figured I would go there first to get a white hot chocolate, since some of their shops serve that beverage.
As I walked to the cashier, I asked for my white chocolate, and the gal in coffee shop uniform started to converse with me in English. "Are you from Hawaii?" she asked. "No. NY." I replied. Her face immediately lit up. She told me she was from Queens. I showed her my NY Mets shirt and we started gabbing about Flushing, NY! Of course she asked how I came to be at her rest area in the middle of Korea if I was from NY, so I told her I was traveling from Geoje back to Suwon. It came out that she had been born in Korea, but when she was young moved to NY. She grew up there and had only come back a few years ago to get married. She shared how she had a tightknit group of friends from there, who were all still single, and called her a loser because she had married and moved back to Korea. She has a five year old daughter, and would love for her daughter to see NY. I encouraged her to go visit sometime with her little girl. As we spoke, she began to tear up, and I could see how much she missed her home in the US. It was a neat little NY connection with this new friend, who asked me my name, and gave me my drink for free, right there in the middle of the highway in South Korea. She asked me when I was coming back, and I told her I drive by about once a month. As I left, I said Good bye and felt to say 'God Bless you!". I did say it, but let it trail off as I walked away, and immediately regretted it, feeling I should have made the point to say it to her while looking at her. She had blessed me, and I really wanted to leave her with something. Most of the time I drive by there, it is night time, and the coffee shops are often all closed already. Really going to make a point of it though, to stop at that particular rest area and see if I might run into her again, as I would love to see her and encourage her again. For now, I will pray, for her, and that I don't fail next time I feel prompted to share God's love boldly with someone. My Redeemer lives, and I know He is faithful to show His love to this lady who I believe was encouraged to see a face from home, and to me, even when I fall, that He will pick me up and redeem things in ways I cannot fathom.
As I walked to the cashier, I asked for my white chocolate, and the gal in coffee shop uniform started to converse with me in English. "Are you from Hawaii?" she asked. "No. NY." I replied. Her face immediately lit up. She told me she was from Queens. I showed her my NY Mets shirt and we started gabbing about Flushing, NY! Of course she asked how I came to be at her rest area in the middle of Korea if I was from NY, so I told her I was traveling from Geoje back to Suwon. It came out that she had been born in Korea, but when she was young moved to NY. She grew up there and had only come back a few years ago to get married. She shared how she had a tightknit group of friends from there, who were all still single, and called her a loser because she had married and moved back to Korea. She has a five year old daughter, and would love for her daughter to see NY. I encouraged her to go visit sometime with her little girl. As we spoke, she began to tear up, and I could see how much she missed her home in the US. It was a neat little NY connection with this new friend, who asked me my name, and gave me my drink for free, right there in the middle of the highway in South Korea. She asked me when I was coming back, and I told her I drive by about once a month. As I left, I said Good bye and felt to say 'God Bless you!". I did say it, but let it trail off as I walked away, and immediately regretted it, feeling I should have made the point to say it to her while looking at her. She had blessed me, and I really wanted to leave her with something. Most of the time I drive by there, it is night time, and the coffee shops are often all closed already. Really going to make a point of it though, to stop at that particular rest area and see if I might run into her again, as I would love to see her and encourage her again. For now, I will pray, for her, and that I don't fail next time I feel prompted to share God's love boldly with someone. My Redeemer lives, and I know He is faithful to show His love to this lady who I believe was encouraged to see a face from home, and to me, even when I fall, that He will pick me up and redeem things in ways I cannot fathom.
Three Days to Go...
Sleep habits can be changed fairly quickly, I am discovering. Spent the last five days staying up gradually later and later, and sleeping gradually later and later. Was in bed about 7:30am today and just got up at about 2:30pm.
Packing is coming together. Have mailed three large boxes (golf club-sized at 15 x15 x 48, and discovered all kinds of interesting things about the best way to pack and ship things through the USPS. It has meant packing, only to discover that my duffles did not meet Korean Air size limits, repacking to mail, only to realize I had food and some liquids in my bag, to repacking again to comply with the no foods, no liquids, no sharps, no flammables, rules for USPS. Hauling boxes to the post office only to twice be met with an "I am sorry ma'am, but your box is too large to mail", and needing to convince them that the USPS website shows that my boxes are within limits for Priority International Express mail (not more than 108 inches when you add length and girth of the box). I am guessing they don't see this very often. :) Getting the boxes posted. Watching email tracking notices (Yay! My first box has cleared customs in Korea!) and getting an email from ISK saying my first tall box has arrived safely.
Packing is coming together. Have mailed three large boxes (golf club-sized at 15 x15 x 48, and discovered all kinds of interesting things about the best way to pack and ship things through the USPS. It has meant packing, only to discover that my duffles did not meet Korean Air size limits, repacking to mail, only to realize I had food and some liquids in my bag, to repacking again to comply with the no foods, no liquids, no sharps, no flammables, rules for USPS. Hauling boxes to the post office only to twice be met with an "I am sorry ma'am, but your box is too large to mail", and needing to convince them that the USPS website shows that my boxes are within limits for Priority International Express mail (not more than 108 inches when you add length and girth of the box). I am guessing they don't see this very often. :) Getting the boxes posted. Watching email tracking notices (Yay! My first box has cleared customs in Korea!) and getting an email from ISK saying my first tall box has arrived safely.
Thursday, August 14, 2014
Anticipation
I must admit to some ambivalence about starting a new blog. I already have five blogs started, most of those somewhat defunct because they were written for a specific time and purpose (ie. grad school class projects, job-related classroom communication, or missions outreach updates for prayer supporters).
I have been asked to share my experiences connected with my upcoming move to South Korea. Friends from home who graciously have expressed interest in what I have to say, and in photos I might share about my new adventure have also promised to pray, and want to know how. Have been wondering if another Facebook page would be a better option, or something else. Maybe both? A private group page, and a blog, to allow for both options? I love to write, and spend plenty of time on facebook, so that should not be a chore.
Departure is in less than three week and it comes with much anticipation. It comes with mixed emotions, and lots of farewells, and good food (I am eating as much of my favorite American foods now fully aware I will not get to my favorite restaurants again for at least a few months). It comes with intentional uncluttering, deliberate packing, and planning how to best approach a radical change in time zone (to one that is 13 hours ahead of my own -- getting ready for days and nights to abruptly switch places). Korean visa already secured in my passport, flight arrangements already confirmed, start date for work determined...is this really happening? Pinch me -- I am moving to Korea!
I have been asked to share my experiences connected with my upcoming move to South Korea. Friends from home who graciously have expressed interest in what I have to say, and in photos I might share about my new adventure have also promised to pray, and want to know how. Have been wondering if another Facebook page would be a better option, or something else. Maybe both? A private group page, and a blog, to allow for both options? I love to write, and spend plenty of time on facebook, so that should not be a chore.
Departure is in less than three week and it comes with much anticipation. It comes with mixed emotions, and lots of farewells, and good food (I am eating as much of my favorite American foods now fully aware I will not get to my favorite restaurants again for at least a few months). It comes with intentional uncluttering, deliberate packing, and planning how to best approach a radical change in time zone (to one that is 13 hours ahead of my own -- getting ready for days and nights to abruptly switch places). Korean visa already secured in my passport, flight arrangements already confirmed, start date for work determined...is this really happening? Pinch me -- I am moving to Korea!
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