i cannot help but marvel that it is already the end of august 2009. how time has flown! when i look at Scripture, God always had His people establish markers - markers to remind them of one of God's feats, of an encounter with God, of an end or a beginning to a new season in life. in my own way, i feel like this season and really, the end of this month, is a time to put a marker down to remember what God has done in my life.
last year - september 2nd - jody and i left korea. i cannot believe it has been a whole year, and yet i know now would be a good time to stop and take stock of my heart and perspective one year after leaving so formative a place. i must say that life is hard wherever you live, so i am thankful that i did not leave korea thinking 'the grass is greener in america'. i knew that danger, and so i am thankful that jody and i left when we did... knowing that it truly was time for us to leave and begin a new chapter in our lives.
talking to mom over the phone yesterday put words to my feelings concerning korea's challenges for me. i feel like the challenges i faced in korea where few, but i could never seem to overcome them. they hounded and shamed me constantly, so i never felt at peace, never felt like i could overcome them and live in victory - especially in being joyful despite my circumstances, which the Lord commands us to be as Christians. here in colorado (or should i just say, america?), there are so many more factors to consider (families, friends, so many bills, transportation, etc) and potential bumps in the road, but i see marked progress so much more clearly as jody and i overcome one hurdle after another. i am more at peace here.
a year later, there are occasional twinges of discouragement concerning the season i spent in
korea... and really just disappointment that i couldn't seem to live in victory. however, i truly believe the Lord is healing the past and allowing me to move forward in life. i praise Him for His faithfulness in bringing me through it all.
and i am always craving the food! a few nights ago jody and i had a deep craving for korean lamyun, which cannot be satisfied by typical american lamyun. so we snagged britt parsons and drove to aurora to the asian (korean, really) market. we bought our lamyun, and then we hunted down a little korean restaurant to have some korean food. i cannot lie, i was beyond excited. jody said i was glowing! and i can honestly s
ay that i had been craving korean food for weeks. i had doenjang jjigae, a popular stew that warms your insides for hours! it was fantastic! then, a few nights ago jody and i watched a korean movie that was so typically korean in drama, it was hilarious. i praise God for korean food, for korean drama, and for the internationally cultural perspective having lived there gives me.
another marker
it is also worth mentioning that in three days jody and i celebrate our two year anniversary! this go-round, we have year 1 to look back on, and i can honestly attest to the blessing marriage is amidst life's challenges. year 1 of marriage was spent overseas, working in a foreign culture, going to an international church, learning from christian international couples and seeking God's heart for our future. year 2 we started married life in america, spending considerable time with each set of in-laws, moving and establishing residency in a new state and starting seminary. what unique challenges each year has presented! but God has truly been faithful through every hiccup and challenge, and through it all i praise God for jody! he has been such a blessing in my life. i look forward to many, many more years of serving the Lord with him, and i love seeing God do marvelous works in him, making him the man He's calling him to be.
i can also attest to the Scripture "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." Proverbs 27:17 God has used marriage to show me how terribly sinful i am, and how very much i need the Lord to keep going. i am thankful for jody, who keeps me in check and challenges me to re-think how i have always done things and to consider others more carefully. marriage is definitely a check on selfishness, and i'm so glad. i pray my marriage is a testimony of God's goodness and faithfulness, and of His incredible love, which challenges, convicts and spurs us on towards Him.
pray for us. pray for our marriage as we grow together and as we continue to seek God's plan for our lives.
last year - september 2nd - jody and i left korea. i cannot believe it has been a whole year, and yet i know now would be a good time to stop and take stock of my heart and perspective one year after leaving so formative a place. i must say that life is hard wherever you live, so i am thankful that i did not leave korea thinking 'the grass is greener in america'. i knew that danger, and so i am thankful that jody and i left when we did... knowing that it truly was time for us to leave and begin a new chapter in our lives.
talking to mom over the phone yesterday put words to my feelings concerning korea's challenges for me. i feel like the challenges i faced in korea where few, but i could never seem to overcome them. they hounded and shamed me constantly, so i never felt at peace, never felt like i could overcome them and live in victory - especially in being joyful despite my circumstances, which the Lord commands us to be as Christians. here in colorado (or should i just say, america?), there are so many more factors to consider (families, friends, so many bills, transportation, etc) and potential bumps in the road, but i see marked progress so much more clearly as jody and i overcome one hurdle after another. i am more at peace here.
a year later, there are occasional twinges of discouragement concerning the season i spent in
korea... and really just disappointment that i couldn't seem to live in victory. however, i truly believe the Lord is healing the past and allowing me to move forward in life. i praise Him for His faithfulness in bringing me through it all.and i am always craving the food! a few nights ago jody and i had a deep craving for korean lamyun, which cannot be satisfied by typical american lamyun. so we snagged britt parsons and drove to aurora to the asian (korean, really) market. we bought our lamyun, and then we hunted down a little korean restaurant to have some korean food. i cannot lie, i was beyond excited. jody said i was glowing! and i can honestly s
ay that i had been craving korean food for weeks. i had doenjang jjigae, a popular stew that warms your insides for hours! it was fantastic! then, a few nights ago jody and i watched a korean movie that was so typically korean in drama, it was hilarious. i praise God for korean food, for korean drama, and for the internationally cultural perspective having lived there gives me.another marker
it is also worth mentioning that in three days jody and i celebrate our two year anniversary! this go-round, we have year 1 to look back on, and i can honestly attest to the blessing marriage is amidst life's challenges. year 1 of marriage was spent overseas, working in a foreign culture, going to an international church, learning from christian international couples and seeking God's heart for our future. year 2 we started married life in america, spending considerable time with each set of in-laws, moving and establishing residency in a new state and starting seminary. what unique challenges each year has presented! but God has truly been faithful through every hiccup and challenge, and through it all i praise God for jody! he has been such a blessing in my life. i look forward to many, many more years of serving the Lord with him, and i love seeing God do marvelous works in him, making him the man He's calling him to be.
i can also attest to the Scripture "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." Proverbs 27:17 God has used marriage to show me how terribly sinful i am, and how very much i need the Lord to keep going. i am thankful for jody, who keeps me in check and challenges me to re-think how i have always done things and to consider others more carefully. marriage is definitely a check on selfishness, and i'm so glad. i pray my marriage is a testimony of God's goodness and faithfulness, and of His incredible love, which challenges, convicts and spurs us on towards Him.
pray for us. pray for our marriage as we grow together and as we continue to seek God's plan for our lives.
Happy Anniversary, my love!
2 comments:
I love that photo of you two! Happy Anniversary! I'll write you soon. XOX
It was so nice to get a snapshot of what has been going on with you guys this past year. I am so glad you are enjoying Colorado and making good friends:)
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