Act I Scene II

) Lift up your heads, O gates!
And be lifted up, O ancient doors,
that^Q)">(Q) the King of glory may come in.
⁸Who is this King of glory?
The LORD, strong and mighty,
the LORD,^R)">(R) mighty in battle!
⁹Lift up your heads, O gates!
And lift them up, O ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
¹⁰Who is this King of glory?
^S)">(S) The LORD of hosts,
he is the King of glory!
Psalm 24



Well, I sense it is time for another update...
I've been in South Korea now for three weeks!

I'm still surprised!

I just would not have guessed I would be overseas teaching so soon. It was something I hoped I would get the chance to do...but I anticipated it would be one of those "many-years-down-the-road" types of deals.
Couldn't have predicted God would bring me here at the young age of 23!!

I have been reminded lately of God's amazing handiwork in all of creation.
Not only the beauty that he creates in the mountains, the rivers, and his people...but also the circumstances he has arranged. The story He is writing.

I can look back at my life, and even in the last 4 years...even this past year... God has done so much in my life.
In moments like that I feel like a grown tree realizing it was once an acorn. It's hard to believe so much growth has happened.

Then in those same moments I'll look ahead, realizing how much more growth I have to go!
Like a young tree looking to a tall aged tree, hoping it will grow to such heights.

Then this same tree realizes God has planted her by streams of water to quench her thirst. That He prunes her daily, that she might bear more fruit.
That He has set the sun above the skies to warm her.
Then this young tree realizes the forest around her...filled with old trees and older trees. Young trees, and newly planted seeds.

This entire forest tells a story- of the one true King. The one who came to die so that we might be free....free to worship as we were created to, free to grow as we ought to, and free to be what we were intended to be. His.

And here I am in South Korea, teaching K-9th graders English.
It's something I feel honored to do. It's challenging...and a lot of work. But I grow in love for the kids, and the work, daily.

It's also just a small part of a great story...where Christ is central. I think I need to remind myself of this often.

We can only live our lives day by day... One day at a time.

²³Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. ²⁴I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. ²⁵The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. ²⁶Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
John 12

³ He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.
Psalm 1