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My eyes are dry But what can be done –Keith Green
I really appreciated the people who encouraged me and were excited for me when we were "falling in love." I am thankful for those who cheered on all the "foot-popping, birds singing, the world is a beautiful place" feelings associated with "new love." And, it really irritates me when people–especially younger-than-me-couples who married in their late teens early twenties–"poo-poo" (make fun of) the idea of "new love." It seems that they equate "new love" with "immature love" that only "young people who don't know any better" experience. Or they even think of new love as being fake. I guess I can understand that if all the "ooey-gooey," star-gazing love for them happened when they were young and immature that they would assume that the "ooey-gooey," star-gazing love is also immature. But it's not. It's a necessary building block for developing a lasting love. You have to "walk on air" before you can walk together on the solid ground of commitment. New love is exciting. It is delightful. It is fun. But, it is not immature. :) I like the way Ed Wheat talks about it in The First Years of Forever. He claims both new love (what he calls "belonging love") and "absolute love" "need to be at the heart of a relationship" and that the "two loves merge into one to bless [a couple's] new life together." Wheat further gives this advice for a "sure formula for a lasting, love-filled marriage: Enjoy the feelings of love and guard them well, but live by the facts of love." Like I said . . . we have to get to experience the excitement of new love first before we can build our lives on commitment and agape love. And, therefore, new love should not be made fun of or joked about in a way that puts down those that are living it. It is great and wonderful. In fact it is exhilarating! :) If you have had the privilege of experiencing new love you should count yourself blessed . . . not poo-poo the idea of it.
I found this quote while visiting the World Missions 101 Site last night. It SO resonates with how I feel . . . I've explained it before as being a milkshake. “We can get out and learn to live in the new culture, and, in time, we will feel as at home in it as our own, possibly even more so. Something happens to us when we adapt to a new culture, we become bicultural people. . . .
In one sense, bicultural people never fully adjust to one culture, their own or their adopted one. Within themselves they are part of both. When Americans are abroad, they dream of America, and need little rituals that reaffirm this part of themselves—a food package from home, a letter, an American visitor from whom they can learn the latest news from `home’. When in America, they dream of their adopted country, and need little rituals that reaffirm this part of themselves—a visitor from that country, a meal with its food. Bicultural people seem happiest when they are flying from one of these countries to the other. (“Crucial Dimensions in World Evangelization”, Paul Hiebert, 1976, 4th printing, William Carey Library, Pasadenia California pg 51,52) SO true!!! So . . . very, very TRUE!!! :) Any of you other "bicultural" or milkshake people out there totally identify with this passage?? Though I speak with the tongues of scholarship, and though I use approved methods of education, and fail to win others to Christ, or build them up in And though I have the best of methods and understand all mysteries of religious psychology, and though I have all biblical knowledge, and lose not myself in the task of winning others to Christ, I become as a cloud of mist in an open sea. And though I read all Sunday School literature, and attend Sunday School conventions, institutes, and summer school, and yet am satisfied with less than winning souls to Christ and establishing others in Christian character and service, it profiteth nothing. The soul-winning servant, the character-building servant, suffereth long and is kind, he envieth not others who are free from the servant’s task; he vaunteth not himself, is not puffed up with intellectual pride. Such a servant doth not behave himself unseemly between Sundays, seeketh not his own comfort, is not easily provoked. Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things. And now abideth knowledge, methods, the Message, these three: but the greatest of these is the Message. –Joseph Clark, paraphrasing 1 Corinthians 13, quoted in Ernest Reisinger, Today’s Evangelism, and in turn quoted in Don Whitney's Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life. This is our story of God's grace . . . Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own
Needless to say a lot has happened recently. God has been kind, very kind!! Some of you found out that I had a boyfriend in real life, some of you found out by email, but for many of you this is coming as a total shock and surprise. :) I promise I didn't just decide yesterday to marry the guy next to me on the bus. And, I also promise that we didn't keep our relationship secret from our family and in-real-life friends. We just choose to keep our relationship off the blog for a couple of reasons. And, that is really what made blogging these past few months difficult . . . I couldn't blog about what I really wanted to . . . and I was kinda busy spending time with the man of my dreams. :) You can go to our wedding site and/or wedding blog to read more, but here are the basic details: We would appreciate your prayers for us as we Oh, if I could compose like Anne Bradstreet or Mary Gardiner Brainard I would write poems. But, alas, I cannot, so I am left to quote them instead.
The poem below, “Not Knowing,” captures my heart’s cry. It echoes the desires of my inner me. I could not express my own emotions better than Brainard does in this poem.
So, here I am. I am following an unknown path. I
And because He does know this path, although narrow and unknown to me, it is worth traveling.
O restful, blissful ignorance! It is blessed not to know! 
Yesterday morning I had to fight for joy. I had to seek to continually remind myself that it's not about me. When the CD player didn't work for my listening class . . . when the room was sticky hot with humidity and an AC that didn't work . . . when a student accidently stepped on my foot bending the nail on my big toe backwards spilling blood everywhere . . . when I left my whimpering dog alone at home . . . when my office was in an upheaval of rearranging all the funiture while I needed to prepare for class . . . when I thought of home . . . when I wanted to have a pity party. Oh, how I wanted to feel sorry for myself! But . . . reality is: it is not about me. I am but a "small dot on the landscape of time." All day long I was faced with the same choice over and over again . . . to wallow in self-pity or choose joy. It is so easy to become envious of others . . . it is so easy to see Praise God that he is merciful and gracious! Unlike my 16th birthday where I did choose to wallow in self-pity throwing an emotional hissy-fit when I thought that the world should be revolving around me and it wasn't . . . yesterday I fought to choose joy. I still look at the pictures of that 16 year old with her purple braces and purple silk shirt similng at the camera holding up her purple birthday gifts and all I remember from that day is my own depravity and self-centeredness. Oh, how selfcentered and selfish I was on my 16th birthday! The morning of my 30th birthday wasn't easy. Tears were spilled . . . more than once. I had to heavily rely upon the grace and goodness of our Lord to empower me to be able to keep a positive attitude. I depended greatly on the Spirit bringing to mind scripture in order to keep my heart pure. Cuz, oh, it sure didn't want to be on it's own. Praise God for His unfailing love and tender mercies!! He is so kind. Things got a little better in the afternoon and ended on a very sweet note . . . more about that later. :) Although, in recent days, I've felt old for the first time in my life (is that because my students are no longer in the same generation as me??), I am thankful for the reminder yesterday that I am but only "sampling infinity."
(Thomas Watson, 1658, "A This is quite similar to a cruel mercy quote I posted awhile back. As I was skimming through this article, Has God Called You?, by Albert Mohler, I nodded in TOTAL agreement to the bolded part below.
When I was finishing up grad school in 2002-2003, I was faced with "what next?" I actually considered the fact that I desired to be in Taiwan a sign that it must not be God’s will for me. I actually thought that I should have to struggle and surrender to a task that I didn’t want to do in order for it to be pleasing to God. WHAT!?!?! Why would I think such a thing? So, I started looking at other countries. Some friends in Japan had invited me to come work along side them, so I replied with interest. I began to look at organizations that I could serve with in China. Then another terrible thought occurred to me . . . "what if it is not Asia?" So, I contemplated South America and Africa. I cannot explain in mere words what this was doing to my heart. I was willing to follow God anywhere He wanted to send me, but I was sure that meant I must suffer, that I couldn’t be happy or joyful about it. Why I fell prey to this evangelical piety line of thinking remains to me a mystery. However, this reopening of looking for a place to go was making me much like those waves in the first chapter of James–driven and tossed by the wind. I remember in at least one sermon long ago, my dad compared that Greek word used there to the agitation cycle of a washing machine. The twist and turn, twist and turn of all that water going no where. Yep, that what it was . . . my heart stuck in a perpetual spin-cycle of emotion. By God’s merciful grace, a godly couple I had met on a mission trip to Hong Kong some years before were in town and wanted to meet up. As we sat in the Chinese restaurant, and I poured out my heart, expressing my desire to Oh, I will never, ever forget the looks on their faces. I was unable to discern the falsehood of the evangelical piety lies I had fallen subject to, but they sure were able to. They responded first in utter shock to the words spewing from my mouth and then with loving kindness spoke scripture to me. For the first time in months, I was able to see that when we follow God’s will there IS joy. And that is OK. That being obedient, although not easy and not without sacrifice, is a thing that is full of joy and happiness. Oh how everything changed that day! Praise God for the people in our lives who speak the truth in love to us! Please don’t hear me wrong–being obedient is not easy. But that doesn’t mean it must be a dreadful, terrible thing that we will hate doing. God is kind. Like that second quote by Betty Scott Stam I posted two weeks ago, when we release the little trinkets we’ve been clinging to, He replaces them with precious treasures. Letting go of those little trinkets might seem hard at the time, but accepting those precious treasures? Never. Our God is a God who gives desires to His children who delight in him. How neat is that!?! Oh, what a great God He is!! God’s will is good and
Written by Betty Scott Stam (raised as an MK in China, she later was a Elisabeth Elliot copied this prayer into her Bible and signed it when she was ten or eleven. After finding it in one of Elisabeth Elliot’s books, I copied it into my journal and signed it when I was in high school (I did change the Thees and Thous to Yous and Yours). Both Betty and Elisabeth sacrificed much to serve their Lord. I, of course, have given so little compared to them. However, the Lord has completely changed my original desires and hopes, altered my own plans and purposes. For this I am glad. Betty’s prayer remains my heart’s cry to this day.
"A woman’s heart should be so hidden in Christ that a man should have to seek Him first to find her." (I searched online to see if I could find the source, it looks like it is probably from Maya Angelou.)
(Thomas Watson, 1660, "The Beatitudes." Public Domain as seen on Grace Gems.) I "share" the posts I read and think others would benefit from reading. But sometimes, simply sharing them in my sidebar is not enough. For example, there are parts of this clip below from Pulpit Magazine written by Jesse Johnson that I would totally highlight, underline and draw stars next too if I could mark up a computer screen!!
This beautiful seventeenth-century hymn is on Sovereign Grace’s latest CD: In a Little While, a father and son project. I love the gentle melody and simple but powerful truth of this song! Plus it matches my path theme. ;) I’ve listened to it over and over. What a great addition to my "Trusting God Playlist" (which started after reading about Carolyn McCulley’s list)! You can listen to a minute long clip of the song online. To give credit where credit is due: the original was written in German by Samuel Rodigast in 1676. Catherine Winkworth translated it to English in 1863. Then, Mark Altrogge updated the English for the CD and wrote new music for the song. "What is there more wonderful and precious than Christ? Men do not know the gold which lies in the mine of Christ or surely they would dig for it night and day. They have not yet discovered the ‘pearl of great price,’ or they would have sold all they had to buy the field in which it lies. "Words of eloquence fail to describe the person of Christ–it paralyzes the artist’s arm when he would try to portray him; it would overwhelm the sculptor to carve his image- even were it possible to chisel it in a massive block of diamond.
"There is nothing in nature comparable to him. In comparison to his radiance the brilliance of the sun is nothing but a dim light; yes, nothing can rival him, and heaven itself blushes at its own plainness when his ‘altogether lovely’ person is (Spurgeon, public domain as seen on Grace Gems.) A man’s god is that which . . . (Henry Law, 1797-1884, public domain as seen on Grace Gems.) "To a man who knows the value of the Word of God, it is . . . "How sweet are Your Words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" (Psalm 119:103). "They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb" (Psalm 19:10). "This one book is worth more than all the other books in the world! He who reads this book with attention, humility, prayer, and self application, can never be ignorant of that which it chiefly concerns him to know. "Therein are contained the words of eternal life. It has God for its Author, salvation for its object, and truth, without mixture of error, for its matter."
(Gorham Abbott, 1833, My parents taught me very early about the importance of attitude. Learning how to adjust it was a very important part of my up-bringing. However, I first heard about the "10/90 rule" in regards to attitude and life during my teen years from Charles Swindoll. I had the following quote posted in my closet during high school so I could be reminded of its truth daily:
Let me give you an example. I live among thousands of Taiwanese people in a huge apartment complex. I don’t get a lot of mail, so I check my mail box regularly but not often. The apartment complex has security guards who are supposed to watch the comings and goings of the people and open the safety bar to allow residents to park in the basement. These security guys also tell me when I have mail. (This is not part of their job description.) At first, it was only when I got a package that they would gesture making the shape of a box and shout "package" in Chinese at me when I rode in on my scooter. Then they started telling me about every.piece.of.mail–every postcard, every bill, every advertisement. Friday night, one of them even ran down from his basement bar-opening post, shouting my name in Chinese as I disappeared up the stairs in order that he might get to my mailbox and open it so that he could be ready to help me retrieve my electricity bill. So, I have a choice. I can (A) feel annoyed that I and my mailbox are being watched so closely and/or feel annoyed that these men don’t think I am adult enough to check my own mail or (B) be grateful that the security guys care about me and want to make sure I get my mail in a timely manner. It might not seem like it, but I tell you sometimes B is a really hard choice to choose. And this is just one example. Here are some more: People stare at me. Do I (A) decide this is rude and start to harbor negative feelings towards all strangers or (B) remember that I might be the first or one of the few white people they’ve ever seen in person and be grateful for their interest in me? Children and teens shout strange things to me in English. Do I (A) ignore them and grumble inside about how bad their English is or (B) with a smile and a glance in their direction, shout a pleasant reply back because really they might be trying to be friendly? Complete strangers ask me stupid questions. Do I (A) put them off and get offended by their nosiness or (B) try to be as friendly as I can as I once again answer the same stupid question for the umpteenth time this month, being thankful for their interest in me? (Actually, even the fact that I am choosing to call it a "stupid question" lets you in on the fact that I am choosing to think these questions are stupid when I could choose to think of them as friendly "get to know questions" instead.) And the list goes on . . . and on . . . and on. And again, it might not seem like it, but I tell you sometimes it is really hard to choose B. But, let me tell you this too . . . when I do choose B, life is OH SO MUCH better. Sweeter. Enjoyable. The world is friendlier and living here is great. And, in reality, because I am supposed to be salt and light, choosing B makes sharing Christ’s love so much easier. Not just because "they" see a changed person, but also because my ‘tude is right and I can actually feel loving towards "them." When I start to choose As more often then Bs it time for me to spend some extra time alone with the One who excels at ‘tude-adjusting.
"Just as it is wise to keep clear accounts of our receipts and expenses, our debts and engagements, so it is wise constantly to examine and compare our heart and conduct with the Word of God; to see what duties have devolved upon us, and whether we have discharged them, or failed in them, and what means can be adopted to promote circumspection, diligence, and fidelity in future. "These reviews, if faithfully entered into, will often be humbling and painful, but they will be no less profitable. The more we know of ourselves—the less we shall be inclined to rely on our own merits or to trust our own strength. "And the more earnestly we shall desire an interest in the perfect righteousness and all-sufficient atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the influences of his Holy Spirit to purify our souls and to quicken and sustain us in the paths of holiness." . . .
By these points let every action be examined:
(Gorham Abbott, 1833,
“Americans who travel abroad for the first time are often shocked to discover that, despite all the progress that has been made in the last 30 years, many foreign people still speak in foreign languages” (Dave Barry). Yep. They do. I promise!
When Martin Luther’s puppy happened to be at the table, he looked for a morsel from his master, and watched with open mouth and motionless eyes. Luther said, "Oh, if I could only pray the way this dog watches the meat! All his thoughts are concentrated on the piece of meat. Otherwise he has no thought, wish, or hope." (story found at Grace Gems!) Take heed of pride and haughtiness of spirit. Pride is the great master-scar of the soul; Pride is . . . "Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished." (Proverbs 16:5) "I hate pride and arrogance!" (Proverbs 8:13)
God will have nothing to do with proud people.
Therefore as ever you would enjoy God’s presence, (Thomas Brooks, 1675,
"Great is your mercy, O Lord" (Psalm 119:156). Oh, let us rejoice that we have such a merciful God!! "I will sing of the tender mercies of the Lord forever!" (Psalm 89:1). A Maranatha Music song from the late 1970’s has been running through my head all weekend:
You know there are times when the path might be unknown, but there is only one way to go–forward–so that is what you do.
So, here I stand at a "y" in this unknown path waiting. Waiting. Waiting. Waiting. It is, oh, so tempting to do things the Amanda-way. It is, oh, so tempting to apply Amanda-logic. It is, oh, so tempting to not be patient! "Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long" (Psalm 25:5). I found this sermon by James Smith (1869) to be of great comfort, encouragement, and exhortation. If you find yourself in a place of waiting–please do click over and at least skim if not soak in what he is saying. Here is a not-so-brief clip:
I wanna keep cutting and pasting more, but I will refain from doing so and just once again say: go read it if you find yourself, like me, in a place a waiting. Oh, and when I am done waiting . . . I’ll tell you which part of the "y" I was instructed to take. |
Hi! We are Lawrance and Amanda Wu. We live in Taiwan--a little tea leaf shaped island in Asia. Amanda is from Texas and Lawrance from Tainan. We met, fell in love and married in 2008. We both teach English and both love to tell others about Jesus. We also both really enjoy laughing, and we both just happen to enjoy "ching cha," a type of fabulous green tea. Thanks for stopping by our blog. Wuhoo!                      
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