jenshang's Xanga

Tuesday, August 05, 2008

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 00:22:21 GMT

I love reading during the summer. I think my main focus for this month would be to study the book of Ezekiel. I've always found the book to be fascinating, but I never really got to study it. The desire to study it began during my reading of chapter 24 in which Ezekiel's wife, "the desire of his eyes", dies to symbolize the loss of God's beloved, Israel. I can't imagine losing a spouse and seeing the destruction of my home (Jerusalem for him) on the same day. Despite the pain and sorrow, Ezekiel did not mourn for his wife's death as God would not mourn for Jerusalem: "I am taking from you at one stroke the treasure of your eyes. Yet you shall neither mourn nor weep, neither shall your tears run down. Sigh, but not aloud, make no mourning for the dead."

I'm enjoying my 1st day of no work this summer! After a week of putting up with my tailbone pain, I can't wait to finally meet up with people and enjoy my nice 3 week vacation. By the way, my week of recovery was awesome b/c I got to meet with the Lord more intimately. But, there's still so much to work on... die flesh die.

I'm also going to try something new: I'm going to try to save money :) I certainly don't like this economic recession, but it has really helped me to budget more and waste less.

China jiayou! I'm very excited about the Beijing Olympics! I miss china so much.

how sad...

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 19:22:27 GMT

My morning started out pretty well. I was excited about my 1st day of teaching summer camp... After parking my car at the center site, I got out to get my stuff out of the car and I locked my keys in the car!!! The locksmith charged me a CRAZY amount (probably close to the cost of a speeding ticket). He even got mad at me for complaining about the high cost b/c he said that he was supposed to charge me more for a Lexus. It was hard to "break into" the car b/c of the security system. He ended up just fishing the keys out of the car because he couldn't unlock the door.

I'm having a great summer so far though. I had an exciting weekend of Whitewater Rafting and camping. Tim's homecoming and tammy & robert's wedding are this weekend! I'm leaving for my missions trip to the Lummi Nation in WA this Sunday!! Please pray for me.

"This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success." Joshua 1:8

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 16:13:22 GMT

wow i haven't written in a while... i've grown much since.

the school year is winding down... this is the last week of school, and I'm so excited! Teaching Chinese has been such a rewarding experience.. and it's opened a lot of doors for me. I got to do a lot of things that I wouldn't have done if I stayed as a classroom teacher. The work is a lot easier and less stressful. On the other hand, i miss being a classroom teacher! I've learned a lot this year... i've gotten a lot better at teaching and being on TV.

the Chinese Acrobats came to our school today, and they were AMAZING. All of the kids were WOWed... some of them think that they can become acrobats too... some thought that I could do those stunts too.. it was only an hour long, and they were so disappointed that they couldn't see more.

Summer plans: conferences, Lummi missions trip, weddings, and possibly teaching some Chinese. Please pray for me.

Some of the things that I've done recently that I've never really tried before: 1. Rubik's cube- it's soo much fun when you know the algorithms... it was like impossible to do without the hints 2. Strawberry Picking (i think i got 5lbs of strawberries) 3. Making ice cream without an ice cream maker 4. picking up lunch with another teacher for the entire school staff 5. xanga-ing at work... i really shouldn't be on xanga right now.

experience the power of prayer

Thu, 01 May 2008 02:09:30 GMT

"It is not great men who change the world, but weak men in the hands of a GREAT God."

http://www.globaldayofprayer.com/10days.php

5/1: National Day of Prayer

5/11: Global Day of Prayer

I've tried praying... and I've tried not praying... praying works better :) thank You Lord.

when God is in it...

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 03:24:05 GMT

Little Is Much

by Downhere

What is the measure of a life well lived?

If all I can offer seems too small to give

This is a song for the weaker, the poorer

And so-called failures.

Little is much when God's in it.

And no one can fathom the plans He holds!

Little is much when God's in it.

He changes the world with the seeds we sow.

Little is much, little is much!

Who feels tired and under-qualified?

Who feels deserted, and hung out to dry?

This is a song for the broken, the beat-up

And so-called losers.

Consider a Kingdom in the smallest seed.

Consider that giants fall to stones and slings.

Consider a child in a manger.

Consider the story isn't over!

What can be done with what you still have?

Little is much when God's in it.
And no one can fathom the plans He holds!
Little is much when God's in it.
He changes the world with the seeds we sow.
Little is much, little is much!

He leaves me speechless...

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 22:43:30 GMT

I'm one year older!! I'm so grateful :) The following song was shared at Perspectives last night...

Growing by Wayne Watson

I'm growing, and I don't like it

I'm growing and it hurts

I love You but I'm tired

Guess I've got a lot to learn.

Don't leave me here.

You said You would not forsake me

But You never said that You wouldn't break me

To make me over in the image of You

In the dark night of the soul

When there's no comfort in praying

Not a moment's leasure in strayin'

You're the only shelter I know.

When feelings fail

When "close enough" isn't good enough

When full enough just isn't full enough

Your grace will be sufficient for me

No wind to sail

No rain to water the flower

In my most desperate hour

You will be the strength that I need.

Easter!

Sun, 23 Mar 2008 23:51:49 GMT

i enjoyed my spring break :) I didn't work on being more disciplined though :( I'm totally ready to go to work tomorrow! I'll be leaving for NYC on Thurs :) I'm not looking forward to coming back though...

Today is an exciting day for many of us! It's Easter!

I got up early in the morning to make Easter breakfast for me and my parents :) I can't imagine doing this every Sunday (making brkfast and getting ready for church) when i have children of my own...

my youth group kiddies got baptized today! it was a great birthday celebration!

My mom and I went to have tea at Dolce after church!

Good Friday was meaningful tooo... we all participated in a Reader's Theater on Good Friday. I gave a message... then we had communion. The dim lighting (light from the overhead projector) was perfect for the solemn skit.

ok time to get ready for Easter dinner...

wrestling with God...

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 02:42:12 GMT

who do you think is going to win? me or God?

Just Obey.

shocked...

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 21:12:01 GMT

http://laist.com/2008/02/28/planned_parenth.php

The Call to Service- Hudson Taylor

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:27:56 GMT

Hudson Taylor wrote with much gentleness, humility, and passion for God's work in China... in his writing, I sense a great urgency for the unreached.

"How in gladness of my heart I poured out my soul before God; and again and again confessing my grateful love to Him who had done everything for me... I besought Him to give me some work to do for Him, as an outlet for love and gratitude; some self-denying service, no matter what it might be, however trying or however trivial; something with which He would be pleased, and that I might do for Him who had done so much for me..."
-wrote about his experience just months after He came to Christ in his teenage years.

He began his work in Shanghai (my hometown!) at the age of 21 and relocated to Ningpo China years later... perhaps my great-grandfather who was from Ningpo and became Christian and a pastor later in his life knew of Hudson Taylor's work.