A picture of beautiful sunrise
It leads me to think about Psalm 136:4-8
⁴ to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.
⁵ who by his understanding made the heavens,
His love endures forever.
⁶ who spread out the earth upon the waters,
His love endures forever.
⁷ who made the great lights—
His love endures forever.
⁸ the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.

God's faithful promise

Throughout this time of change and transition, the Scripture is encouraging and provide peace of God's faithful promise.  Isaiah 55:9-12 speaks to me and lift me up through time of challenges, such as adjusting to the drastically different environment. It is rainy season in PNG and the nature reminds me of this verse that shows me the faithfulness of God.
⁹ “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
¹⁰ As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
¹¹ so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
¹² You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands.

Holy Spirit the Counselor

As a have begun travelling toward Papua New Guinea and moving toward this new chapter of life that God has instored for me, there is a sense of excitement, also a sense of uncertainty that makes me feel a little anxious.  I have times of missing the familiarity of Canada as I am so far away from home.  However, the promise of Holy Spirit as counselor and God's presence is comforting and encouraging.  I have been dwelling on God's word to find peace at this time of transition, especially from John 14:16-18 and Psalm 139:7-10. 

"¹⁶ And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be^[a] in you. ¹⁸ I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." -John 14:16-18

^"7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast."
-Psalm 139: 7-10

A Light in the Jungle

Below is a video called "A Light in the Jungle", which is about the life-changing influence that results from Bible Translation among Folopa.

http://player.vimeo.com/video/21180841?autoplay=1

The passion of the people to share God's word with others, along with their perseverance of both the translation processes and making a long hike to other villages is very encouraging.

The second video is about a teacher for missionary kids who shares her experience and how teaching fits into the big picture of Bible translations and literacy.

http://player.vimeo.com/video/32089655?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=ffffff&autoplay=1

Both of these video have been encouraging to me and inspires me.  I hope you enjoy these 2 video clips.

Psalm 119: 9-11

^"9 How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
By living according to your word.
¹⁰ I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.
¹¹ I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you." -- Psalm 119:9-11

What are great reminder on the value of spending time in God's word and getting to know it with my heart!  I need His word to stay on the path of the Lord's way, the truth and the life.  Father, thank you for providing your word for guidance and true wisdom.  Teach me and lead me to follow your path, may your word be hidden in my hear and lead me to continuously seek you and to grow in you.

I find that this verse is also a powerful reminder of the importance of God's word in mother tongue.  May God's word touches every nation and bring people toward his kingdom.

Finding Renewal in God

During the Thanksgiving weekend, my family and I went to Algonquin Park.  I was in aweof how beautiful and majestic the nature can be.  It also gave me insight on faith lessons.

Some of the greatest insight of nature were found along Two Rivers Trail.  This trail was filled with both older and younger plan species, which showed both the old and new generation of plants.  One fact that interested me the most was that the young plant started growing as a rewult of occurences that may be seen as "destructive" in human perspective.  I was also amazed by the idea of how wildlife could benefit from changes in nature after "destrructive" events, such as fire, in which wlidlife can find food and livelihood.

Afterall, how could faith lessons come from nature?  First, the theme of renewal reminded me how God has been working in every creation and the promise of bringing his good work to completion in Ephesians 1:6.  2 Corinthians 5:17 also came to me, which stated that "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"  Another encouraging verse that came to me was 2 Corinthians 4:16, it said, "Therefore, we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day."  It further reminded me that God is continuously his creation, and leading his children closer to Him.  The theme of more good things would come after "destructive " force showed me that God is more than capable of "[working] for the good of those who love him" (Romans 8:28).

Servant in an "Upside-Down" Kingdom

 ²⁶ Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. ²⁷ But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. ²⁸ God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, ²⁹ so that no one may boast before him. ³⁰ It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. ³¹ Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord." -- 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

Wow! I am in awe of how God is more than willing to invite us into servanthood!  At least for me, I am not perfect, not the most experienced teacher, yet God is leading me to this upcomming missionary journey to serve as a teacher.  I feel previleged to have encouragement from fellow missionary who has told me about their confidence in their own child's education being taken care of, because of teachers who have the heart for God, along with some new opportunity to put my training as teacher into practice at tutoring and work as program instructor in the library.

I know that I need Him to lead me in my daily walk with Him and any service that God calls me to.  I need God to lead me to seek his wisdom, righteousness and holiness, so I can follow Him, the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).  I know that I need to be a humble and teachable servant, since God is the one who is competant, and He is the one who enable and empower his servant (2 Corinthians 3:5-6).
 
On a side note, it is really interesting to see the "upside-down kingdom" of God.

Please pray that I will seek Him, look up to Him, and follow Him all the time.  Let me not boast about me, but to let God be glorified.