Younger Girls Photo Op…

During the Arts and Crafts Camp we had photo ops for each girl, five individual pictures and then one big group picture.  The girls then placed their pictures in the calendars that they made during the camp, for some of them according to the season.  Picture themes include: winter (cold), summer (hot), cute picture (big teddy bear), spring (rain), and the heart for which symbolism I can’t remember.  =)  Enjoy the cute pictures!

Hae Ran

Soo Ah

Soo Yun posing for the rain

Sun Hee posing for the summer shot

Hae Hyun

Hae Ran posing for the winter…

Soo Yun

Sun Hee

Hae Hyun

Soo Ah

Hae Ran

Soo Yun

God bless!

Identity #29 – I am a blessing!

Ezekiel 34:26 speaks of God making a covenant with His people and reads, “I will make them and the places around my hill a blessing, and I will send down the showers in their season; they shall be showers of blessing.”  This verse is easily overlooked and is actually a footnote in the NIV.  But I think God intended for this to be broadcasted loud and clear.  In Christ, we are BLESSINGS.  We carry the aroma of Christ.  His love and His grace live within us.  We bring light to this dark world.  We are made in God’s image and are miracles of life.  We are fearfully and wonderfully made for purposes far beyond our current mind scope.  God does all things for our good. 

The world says, “Earn it, and then we’ll call you a blessing.”  God says, “I have made you a blessing.”  Its innate.  And as we walk with God and take on the identity He has freely given us, we naturally become more and more of the blessing He has made us to be. 

Lunar New Years!

This was my 5th Lunar New Years (also known as Chinese New Years) with my kids.  Its perhaps the biggest holiday in Korea.  We all dress up in traditional Korean attire, have a good meal, and have a traditional bowing (in respect) ceremony to Pastor Chae and his wife (the Dad and Mom of the home), and receive a small money gift.  Its a fun time!  Enjoy the pictures…

Before the festivities… with the 4th high school graduate, Eun Ho… another classic hairstyle

With Ji Woo, in our hanboks (Korean traditional wear)

Little Hyun Woo after receiving his gift

Little Hee Sung

Some of the kindergarten kids about to do the bow

The 6th graders about to receive some affirmation and gifts from Pastor Chae and his wife

The high school grads with Pastor Chae and his wife

Pastor Chae and his wife with the younger kids

Now with the older kids… a very Korean family photograph… try and find a smile that shows teeth…

With Yoo Jin and Young Eun (and Se Bin sneaking in behind Yoo Jin)

With Pastor Chae, Mrs. Chae, and Dong Min dorm dad

With Ah Reum (who used to live in our home), Sun Ran, and Yoo Mi dorm mom

With Jin Seul

God bless!

When It Seems God’s Not There…

For many people I have helped counsel over the years there are certain traumatic memories they have carried where they ask, “Where were You God?”  Memories of abuse or loneliness or deep suffering.  These memories, through our eyes, seem like completely unnecessary pain and trauma that have left deep scars.  How could such a loving God allow such things to happen?

If you have ever felt this way, you aren’t alone.  Jesus experienced this too.  Hanging on the cross He cried out to God, “O God my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46).  I believe this was the only moment in Jesus’ life where He didn’t refer to God directly as His father.  Jesus’ suffering was so great that for a moment even His own relationship with His Father was skewed. 

For us though, the truth is that God will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).  He is with us always, to the very end (Matthew 28:20).  Jesus understands how we feel when we felt completely alone.  And the truth is, Jesus has always been with us and is always interceding for us (Hebrews 7:25).  We may not always understand why certain things have happened, but we know God works all things for our good (Romans 8:28).  The Cross definitely might not have seemed for the good of Jesus, but through overcoming it He became exalted to the highest place and released salvation for all who believe.  Much of the trauma we have experienced definitely has not seemed for our good, but God is able to heal all and redeem all.  There is nothing God doesn’t miss.  And there is nothing Jesus is unable to relate to. 

God bless!

Graduations!

In the past two weeks I attended five graduations.  We had four high school grads (at three different schools), five junior high (at one school), and five elementary grads (at one school). 

I enjoy the hair cuts of the high school grads.  Towards the end of their time at school they are allowed to grow their hair however they want.  I wasn’t able to get a picture of high school grad Eun Ho but his hair cut is great.  I think Jong Hyun’s is the best though.  Enjoy!

High school grads… with Chae Young

With Young Sun

With Jong Hyun

Elementary school grads… Il Ho

Min Shik… sporting the Korean tight lipped smile…

Young Oong with his sister Soo Ah and his dad in the background… they don’t have a mom so their dad tried to but was unable to take care of them while working and trying to get by.  He really loves them though and visits them when he can.

Hae Ji

Seung Hwan

Junior high graduations… with Hyun Hee… yes, its also been snowing quite a bit out here in Korea as well… but not nearly as much as the east coast of America

Young Eun

Yoo Jin… the only of the girls to show teeth in her smile 

Sun Ran

Sang Hoon

Love Room dorm moms with their three junior high grads and some other girls from the room

God bless!

Dangers of Comparing…

Last night in one of the rooms we celebrated a boy’s birthday and had a cake.  The dorm mom went ahead and cut the cake, but she left it to the kids to get their slices.  I watched with disappointment as the young kids tried to scoop as much of the cake they could into their bowls so that they could get the biggest share.  But all the cake was gone before some of the others had gotten theirs.  Thankfully the boys were convicted a bit and shared their big portions so all could eat.

That sight is common among kids, especially brothers and sisters.  Selfishness breeds a desire to get our own share or as much as we can.  Then we compare what we got with others.  And what usually results of this comparison… either pride or insecurity/disappointment.  Pride that we came out on top, or insecurity/disappointment that we didn’t do as well.

I feel this is an area that Satan tries to attack many Christians, especially when God begins to do great works.  Suddenly we can feel pride in the position God is putting us in, or we can feel insecurity/disappointment as we see others doing great things for God.  I don’t want to be like Jesus’ disciples who consistently argued who was the greatest among them.  I desire to have the heart of Jonathan who blessed David and rejoiced over every victory of David. 

We’re all in this together!

Philippians 2:2 – Then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.  

Jerusalem Ministry Arts and Crafts Camp 2010

January 25 – 27, 2010, Jerusalem Ministry held our second annual Arts and Crafts camp for 4th – 6th grade girls from children homes around Seoul.  It was a greatly blessed time with 23 young girls and 29 committed volunteers.  The children made graham cracker houses, t-shirts, thank you cards, jewelry boxes (with a mirror in it signifying they are God’s treasure), calendars, and tiles.  The volunteers gave the children close, positive attention and the girls really bloomed.  I hope you’re blessed by the video!

The Anointing Doesn’t Come With Age

At the Soul Survivor Conference in 2009 (28,000 young people in England) one of their praise leaders, Jamie Rodwell, was 15 years old and another, Tom Field, was only 17 at the time.  This is the same conference where Matt Redman (Heart of Worship, Blessed Be Your Name) started out.  He was 15 when he began leading worship under Pastor Mike Pivalachi’s covering and was 19 when he made his first cd… the song Better Is One Day came out on his second cd when he was 21.  Tim Hughes (Here I Am To Worship, Beautiful One) also started out at this conference when he was 19 back in 1997.  Some of their best songs were penned when they were between 21 and 24 years old. 

I believe age has nothing to do with the power of the Holy Spirit upon a person.  I’ve seen kids move in realms of God’s power that few adults have ever grown to.  Instead of age, just like with King David, God is looking at our heart.  He desires humility and submission to the authority.  He desires a heart that is purely in love with Him and is concerned about God’s thoughts of them rather than the world’s. 

Here is a funny interview of Jamie and his pastor… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPmRHql4FAU&feature=related.

God bless!