Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.

Great is Thy faithfulness.

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For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. -Psalm 57:10

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This summer I learned a great deal about faithfulness.

The divine process in which God keeps His promises.

A demonstration of love.

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His faithfulness was so apparent in even getting me to Tennessee this summer.

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God was faithful in bringing such a great staff together.

To encourage me.

To challenge me.

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He was faithful in giving me words to say.

In response to students who had faced a great deal of suffering.

And faithful in allowing me to listen, when words were not required.

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He was faithful in providing energy everyday.

Because waking up every morning, making it through the schedule was not by my strength at all.

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He was faithful in placing me with 7th and 8th graders--a scary thought.

And reminding me about joy and excitement--and how important it is to be cool in middle school.

((and faithful in showing me I still care about silly things like that too))

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Great Is Thy Faithfulness

"For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever."

Psalm 117:2

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God was faithful in allowing me to run the lights this summer.

So that I could have a private worship service with Him every night.

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He was faithful in allowing my bible study students to sit in one of the 5 seats I could see from the light table.

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He was faithful to silence me and humble me.

I had no voice for most of the summer.

Such a blessing.

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He was faithful to bring LAUGHTER and FUN.

SO much FUN.

JOY.

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And He was Faithful, to remind me of the one source of true Joy.

Himself.

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He was faithful to allow me to be "significantly insignificant"

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Morning, by Morning new Mercies I see.

"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

-Lamentations 3:40

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God was so faithful in forgiving me.

In using me.

In teaching me.

In loving me, despite myself.

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Every.

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Single.

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Morning.

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All I have Needed Thy Hand Hath Provided

"For the Word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does." --Psalm 33:4

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When I needed energy.

When I needed to be slapped in the face.

When I needed a voice.

When I needed a friend.

When I needed encouragement.

When I needed to be challenged.

When I needed to be humbled.

When I needed to surrender.

When I needed to be obedient.

When I needed to be shaped.

When I needed to change.

When I needed Truth.

When I needed a summer like no other.

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When I needed forgiveness and salvation and love.

HE provided.

HE is faithful.

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Great is Thy Faithfulness

"He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he." -Deuteronomy 32:4

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"The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made." - Psalms 145:13

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"Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them--the Lord, who remains faithful forever.

-Psalm 146:5-6

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From day one and Anna.

To the final day and Austin.

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He was faithful.

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and is faithful.

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and will be faithful.

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Lord Unto Me!

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and bee tea dubs....there are more words and pictures and stories to come.

The God of grasshoppers...

I haven't been able to write about the second life-changing experience of the past year. I haven't had the time, nor the words--but maybe I never will. Anyway. I'm not done trying, but in the meantime, instead of some textbook reading I should be doing, here's the update.

I can't say much about the past week (or I guess I can considering the length of this blog). Classes have started and my junior year is underway. Duh, Kaylyn--it's all about joy, right? Yea, tell that to my monotone lectures in Tax Law, Cost Accounting and Intermediate Financial Accounting I. . .haha.

But seriously, no sooner do I declare joy, am I challenged to prove it. And mostly I fail. But I'm struggling. And as I humored myself with something I wrote to a friend in an e-mail,

"struggling indicates one still possesses the will to press on. That they still have some fight in them..plus its also an opportunity to show how stubborn I am, or how gracious God is."

I'm actually liking this. And so here it is again. I'm okay with struggling. Usually it yields growth in someway. I guess another way to word the past week is that. . .I'm growing.

And I'm also getting kicked in the butt by Isaiah 40 tonight. . . where do I even start?

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"Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord's hands double for all her sins." -vs. 1-2.

I start with the beginning, because. . .BOOM. Therefore, Tax Law means nothing, reading hundreds of pages and attending numerous lectures=zilch.

My comfort does not come in the form of a GPA, a to do list completely crossed off, or a full calender full of meetings and appointments, but from the FACT that my sin HAS BEEN PAID FOR.

Which, as a side note, reminds me that I am not my own. That I have been bought at a price.

(1 Corinthians 6: 19-20)

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I take pride in the fact that I can remember things. I remember the first time I met most of my friends, I can remember charts fairly well, and am surprised at the random information I retain. But how easily do I forget?

very.

I am weak, I get tired, whiny, and complain. I am exhausted and it's during these times that I forget the JOY.

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"All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. The grass whithers and the flowers fall, because breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass.

The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever."

(Vs. 6-8)

and I could go on and on about the descriptions of the Lord and how great He is. . .

He comes with power (10)

He's measured the waters and marked off the heavens (12)

weighed the mountains on scales (12)

weighs the islands as though they were dust (15)

Before Him all the nations are as nothing (17)

"To whom, then will you compare God? What image will you compare him to?" -vs 18

He stretches out the heavens like a canopy (22)

He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing (23)

"To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal? says the Holy One (vs. 25)

He brings the starry host one by one and calls them each by name (26)

I serve a BIG God, who does all of these things, and more. Who created and rules over the heavens and the earth. Who is incomparable.

Who is in control.

And who cares about my silly weeks when I get over-loaded with textbook work.

Who hears my cries.

(even about accounting)

"He tends his flock like a shepard; he gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young." -vs. 11

BOOM!

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Here's another lovely lovely thing about this passage.

The last week of camp I had the JOY of sharing my apartment with what I now consider the most annoying animal that was ever created--a cricket.

The horrid animal wouldn't stop chirping, no matter what I did to try to make it stop.

And I tried a lot of things.

But it wouldn't quit chirping.

I began to get highly perturbed with this animal because sleep had become so precious to me, and sleep was something that I was having to sacrifice because of its existence.

Really, I wouldn't have cared if the cricket would have died.

At this point I figured it deserved it.

***BOOM***

"He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers."- vs. 22

Now. I know what you're thinking. "Kaylyn, this is a bit of a stretch."

But seriously. Woah. I laughed at first when I read this part. Really, God? Of all animals to compare people to??

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I've been chirping a LOT lately.

After all I have been taught, after all I have learned and how I have grown. . .

chirp, chirp, chirp.

I'm so glad God doesn't need sleep.

I'm so glad God has so much patience with me, so much understanding, so much LOVE.

I'm so glad God doesn't give us things we deserve...

GRACE

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And here's what we end with . . .the ending.

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary.

They will walk and not be faint.

Vs-28-31

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and bee tea dubs. . .God loves us grasshoppers :)

Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee.

Last December I had the amazing opportunity to travel half-way around the world to celebrate Christmas by serving with fellow believers in a foreign land. There were no trees, lights, carols, snow, family, presents or familiarity. But the season of celebration (and the reason of celebration) existed--and were proclaimed.

From the moment I stepped out of the car I was welcomed with open arms and with bright smiles. The people's genuine love overflowed and their care for others--a servant's attitude was very strong.

I thought later how unfortunate it is that people without knowledge of the ultimate example of Sacrifice and Love demonstrate this quality better than many who live here and believe do.

Guanshi--the word for community is very important to the people. The people around them are very important to them. Part of their culture emphasises the whole rather than the individual. What can he or she sacrifice to help those around them.

What a great example of what Christ came to do. To serve people, to love people.

(I defiantely encountered a little culture shock in the LA airport when I was immediately thrown back into the "me" centered society.)

I loved talking with the believers in that area. Their burden for their friends and family was so great that they were constantly broken hearted. The urgency in their voices when talking about sharing with their communities was overwhelming.

Where was this unbearable burden in my life? Where was the urgency?

To be in a place where people lacked physical needs and wants, emotional needs and wants and definitely spiritual needs and wants was difficult to swallow. There were a few times that I would be on a very very crowded street or bus and though surrounded by hundreds of people I felt very alone.

To live with people in the dorms who were not as fortunate as I and see their contentment and happiness was a lesson in and of itself--but to think about how I had been given Joy (see previous blog for reference) and know that I was not living Joyfully because I was putting emphasis on circumstance was a real slap in the face.

As I was thinking about how I would tell more about the experience I knew that pictures would tell a lot more than I could ever explain and that even with that, they would do the experience an injustice.

(As I was uploading I found out how technologically incompetent I can be--the pictures are in a weird order so just bare with me..there are so many more that I didn't have time to sift through..hopefully I'll revisit pictures and post another blog with more later.)

Here goes, last year's big, life-changing experience number 1:

This is Lisa and Christina (the adorable little girl in the pink). Lisa had the challenge of teaching me introductory Mandarin and shared with us some amazing stories. Christina was their one year old. . They named her Christina, hoping that she would grow up to follow Christ. Their story was amazing and chokes me up to this day.

While we were at the school we had the opportunity to experience some cultural classes. This is a Peking Opera--very neat experience. The musical instruments were unique and the tradition was rich.



This was an English corner, where students and community members gather to practice speaking in English. We had the privilege of joining them and sharing about "American culture" (aka--Christmas).

We met a man named Mr. Juan (about 83 years old) at this English Corner who told us his story. He had worked as a translator in war for American troops and had later paid the price for this association with foreigners by being taken from his family and made to work on a 'farm' for around 8 years. He was resilient and faithful to his beliefs, and his love for God and life even after so many struggles was very inspiring to me.



Some university students after the Peking Opera

These are minority children. They live in villages in the mountains without running water and electricity. They were special guests at this high school's Christmas celebration. The clothes they are wearing were handmade and traditional of the group. They were precious.

Stoped in our taxi on the way into town. People always stared at us--for most people this was the first time they had seen Americans in person.

We ate most of our meals here--this is a common area where most of the students gather to eat lunch and hang out.

Christmas morning, our English Partner Daisy read us the Christmas story in Chinese. This was the first time she had ever read or heard the story of Christ's birth. Or the story of His death for that matter. This was probably my favorite memory of the trip.

The team with some international students at one of the Christmas parties we hosted at the school.

My friend Daisy.

Men in the park playing a game of chess. I loved the sense of community among the people there.

Scenery in the park.

Marissa and Daisy. Would've been lost without them. literally. They translated for us, introduced us to many people on campus and were our tour guides. They are also our friends. They had so much joy and excitement. I learned a great deal from their passion.

This was on the way to our site. The poles are for a train track they were building that will make transportation a lot easier.

The first meal. SPICY.

Driving to our destination. After about 20 hours of plane rides. . .only 3 hours left in the car.

"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have looked at and our hands have touched--this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard , so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

We write this to make our JOY complete."

-1 John 1:1-4

and bee tea dubs, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great JOY..." -Luke 9:10

Its been awhile, let's talk about Joy.

So after over a year of not writing for this blog I'm back. I'm not sure why I haven't written in over a year--probably busyness mixed with no motivation and little inspiration. . but I'm glad I've taken a break. I've read through my previous posts and deleted most of them because looking back I see how narrow my perspective was on things, how limited I allowed myself to become--and I'm sure some of this has to do with the growing up process and feeling a little less naive at this moment--a feeling I'll probably look back on and laugh at. But I like to laugh, so I've decided to put myself out there again and fill you (whoever you are) in on what's transformed my life in the last year.

The last time I wrote, I was living at home, working a summer job for the money, feeling a little monotonous and a little unsatisfied with my contribution to the world.

I am so thankful to the Lord for this past year. For allowing me to experience several things that will possibly change that outlook forever. When reading my posts I have seen how self-centered they have been. How so engourged with the everyday experiences of my insignificant life I miss devine moments--BLESSINGS--I've been given with each rising of the sun.

So. With this new and improved "blogger" . . I plan to encorporate a more removed view. Continuing on the journey to remove my flesh and let Him fill me and use me. Continuing to look to serve others with His love. Continuing to live the "not-about-me" lifestyle. . and in that. Seeing beauty in all of life's lovely experiences.

Because when I look at my life through His eyes. . .everything is beautiful. Because He created it and gave it to me.

I hope that my voice would be only me narrorattion of what He has given me and what He is doing in and through me.


The highlights from the past year will be coming to you in the next few posts. The two biggest events would probably be:

-Traveling to East Asia for Christmas and sharing there.
-Working with 7-8th grade students at a church camp for 8 weeks.


Talking about each of these experiences will require a blog of their own--but that should give you a little bit of a tease as to whats to come.

But as for today, I was doing some reading in 1 Peter today and really didn't make it past chapter 1.

Follows are verses 3-9...

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade--kept in heven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. these have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are recieving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls."


Woah. If I could express a single place God has transformed me over the last 12 months..(and that is hard because I feel like He has taught me so much and shaped me in many different ways)...it would be to teach me about His peace and joy. A joy that I so easily forget when things don't go my way.

What a unbelievable gift He has given us. .one that will "never perish, spoil, or fade" . .that we may have Joy. So many times I find it easy to see the bad. The bad in situations, in people, in how a day went wrong...yet I have been made complete and have been given an "inexpressible and glorious joy" through my salvation through Jesus.

Whoo Hoo.

I hope that my writing henceforth reflects this joy. This peace. While yes, there are trials in this world and we suffer. . they are also an opportunity to glofiy Him who has given us an eternal gift--and a Joy.

We, as Christians live to glorify Him. In all aspects of our lives. So my prayer in this new blog era--(haha, that was more epic than required)--would be that it would glorify my Joy--Jesus.


Bee Tea Dubs, He wants to give you Joy too.