Confidence and Submission

Submission to authority/honor has been a big topic at my church this past year.  God has been revealing a lot through His Word to the power of coming under the covering of the leadership God has set up.  Just yesterday I was reading Jeremiah 33 – 35 and it was all about the curses of God’s people not submitting to the king of Babylon (who God had put over them) and the eternal blessings of a specific family line for living under submission to their forefather’s command.  This stuff really is all through the Word.

One thing God has been revealing to me recently is how much confidence/security in identity are connected to submission to authority.  Most people see the connection between pride and rebellion, and yet for many people when they reject submitting to their authority and choose to make their own decisions or go their own way, they don’t realize that most of their decision was rooted in pride in themselves and faithlessness towards God.  If we know that God is truly sovereign, then we can trust that if submit to the leaders He has put over us we will be blessed, no matter how imperfect the leaders are.  Daniel himself submitted to and honored all sorts of pagan kings who God put over him, only rebelling when the kings gave commands directly against God.  Daniel had faith God was in control. 

Some people fear asking their leaders for advice/counsel because they are worried that the leader will give them counsel they don’t want or will say something they don’t want to hear.  In truth, they don’t want to ask because they feel they know the right way (pride) or they’re worried they won’t be able to handle the counsel they receive (insecurity).  But if they are truly secure in their identity in Christ, then they know no matter what it will be good.  As people have submitted to my authority I’ve watched the confidence within them (not pride, but stability) rise up as they realize that they can actually share and not be afraid.  I’ve also seen pride break off of them as they humble themselves and are honest, not holding onto things.  And as that pride breaks off, I see a peace and faith in God rest in their hearts.  It’s so good!

Just as pride, fear, and rebellion are so connected, so are confidence, humility and submission intertwined.  Submit to your God given authorities and watch as your confidence fully rests in God’s sovereignty and His blessings are released into you.

God bless!

John-Michael Wedding Proposal to Sky

You will be able to see the proposal after a short slideshow of our pictures through the years.  I proposed to her on March 30, 2011, by taking her up a small mountain for a picnic.  At the bottom of the mountain is a gazebo that I had some friends decorate and set up a hidden camera.  When we came down it wasn’t until we were right in front of the gazebo that she looked up to see it.  She was shocked and said “Wow, it’s so beautiful!” not even knowing yet that it was for her.  In the middle I had my friends set a chair with a letter on it for her.  At the end of the letter I wrote “P.S. Please stand up” and then I proposed to her.  She cried a lot, as you will see.  Thankfully my older sister advised me ahead of time to have tissues ready.  Sky ended up needing them before I put the ring on her.  =)  After proposing we shared our first kiss together (we had agreed at the beginning of our relationship to wait until we were engaged to kiss).  We got married a few months later on August 15, 2011. 

Here is a link to the story of how Sky and I came together… http://comequickly.xanga.com/744609849/item/

Learning How to Smile

Last week during Korea’s Thanksgiving Sky and I visited her relatives outside of Seoul.  It was my first time with my new extended family.  Her cousin and his wife were their with their newborn baby, about three months old.  Each of the relatives took time to hold her and they commented on how the baby doesn’t smile.  I eventually got a turn to hold her and I smiled, spoke, and yes cooed at her.  I did the baby talk that most serious people would never do.  And how did the baby respond?  She cooed back.  And she started to try and smile.  You could see the corners of her lips starting to move and those muscles waking up as she cooed back.  Needless to say, some Sky’s relatives were surprised by how the baby was responding to me.

I shared with Sky how you have to teach a baby how to smile.  It goes on the same line as, “We love because God first loved us” (1John 4:19).  Without someone demonstrating joy to us, it is hard for us to know how to be joyful.  Without seeing some goofiness in our lives, we will never know how to act goofy.  I used to wonder when I was younger why parents would act so silly in front of babies and suddenly resort to “baby talk.”  But as I’ve taken care of kids over the years I’ve learned just how powerful demonstrating joy, fun, and goofiness is to them.  I love being with my kids and humming silly, made-up tunes while smiling and them laughing at me, and then later overhearing them humming the same silly tune in their rooms. 

Release joy in those around you.    God bless!

Sky and John-Michael’s Wedding Video Slideshow

Here is a video slideshow that Sky and I put together from some of the pictures we received from our wonderful photographers Jennie and Alyssa Roh.  This is from our wedding in Virginia on August 15th. 

More videos/updates to come!  God bless!  =)

Prioritizing God and Overcoming Disorder

Since getting married a month ago life has been all over the place.  In the past few weeks we’ve been in Jamaica for a week, America for a few days, my old apartment for a few days, and then moved into our new place with nearly no furniture outside of my sofa and twin bed mattress (for two weeks I was sleeping on the floor, not the way you want to start your marriage but there was nothing we could do about it because of the move and the bed delivery time).  Furnishing the place has taken a lot of time, and this past week her mom stayed with us for 5 days and we also had our Korea wedding celebration.  We still have books everywhere (bookshelf finally came today!) and other boxes to take care of.  Needless to say, the past month (aside from Jamaica) there has been a lot of disorder.  And the disorder has affected us physically, mentally, and even spiritually.  With everything in the house so disorganized and with there so much to do, I’ve found it very hard to pray.  I’ve actually found myself only being able to really connect with the Lord one-on-one when I have been driving, because at least my car is clean and there aren’t any distractions in it. 

I have to confess that even though I’m a pastor at my church and a missionary serving in the orphanage ministry, I have struggled to keep consistent with the Lord this past month.  I’ve known that God gives grace and I have needed it and held on to it through this month, but more and more I’ve been reminded that regardless of how much grace God will show, it just isn’t healthy to not prioritize the Lord and do whatever possible to keep consistent with Him no matter how much is happening.  The less we are with the Lord the more things get muddled up.  Quality of life, and particularly quality of rest, gradually decrease. 

Psalm 119:130 (NKJV) – The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. 

That verse sums it up well.  God’s word is so refreshing.  And worshiping Him and listening to His voice brings such light.  What was muddled becomes clear again.  And it’s interesting how what once seemed like so much to do suddenly is able to get done more quickly and better than expected when we put the Lord first.

Blessings!

Repaying God

Amidst our wonderful wedding and travel and now moving into our new place I have to admit that I have had some tough moments of stress. This should be a super joyful, happy time, but at times I have been too focused on worries or burdens to acknowledge the blessings God has given me. Clearly Satan has tried to steal my joy. My dad mentioned to me while I was in America that God is too worthy of praises to continually be approached with concerns. In other words, while it is important to cast my burdens to the Lord and petition for His peace and grace, what I should be focusing on most is praising Him.

During a particular tough couple of days earlier this week it wasn’t until I chose to praise the Lord continually (singing simple songs of worship) that a lot of the worries and stress were lifted off of me. It felt so good.

What is interesting is that God actually demands this praise… for our own good, of course. It’s when we focus on ourselves or the world around us that we can easily get overwhelmed or led astray. In 2Chronicles 32 King Hezekiah was healed of deadly disease, but he didn’t focus on praising on the Lord afterward…

2Chronicles 32:25 (NKJV) – But Hezekiah did not repay according to the favor shown him, for his heart was lifted up; therefore wrath was looming over him and over Judah and Jerusalem.

The word “repay” is translated as “respond” in other versions, but I like the New King James Version. There needs to be a resolve within our hearts that it is our duty to praise the Lord and give Him the worship He is due. Not just for our own health, but because He is truly good and worthy of our adoration. And the more we acknowledge His goodness, the more secure we become in knowing that He loves us and will always take care of us.

God bless!