60 day challenge

At the beginning of July, I opened my e-mail to find a short blog from my favorite author. Titled A Soul That Longs For More, Lysa began telling us about the time God told her to give her bible away. It's a very moving story and you can click here to read the whole thing. 

As Lysa concluded her blog, she explained a month after giving her bible to the man on the airplane he called to tell her he had taken a week off work to read it and had shared his testimony with numerous people. As I read those words, my entire being was convicted. This man knew the news he had been given about the Lord was so great that he had to know more. He felt it was so important to know more that he took a week, AN ENTIRE WEEK, off work just to read the bible. 

Embarrassed. 

Ashamed. 

Unworthy. 

Undeserving. 

Guilty. 

Repentant. 

Those are the emotions I felt as I realized I had never once felt the passion and drive this man felt to set EVERYTHING in his life aside just to be with our sweet Jesus. 

That Sunday, I got up to go to church to hear that our pastor was challenging the church body to read the entire bible in 2 months. Yup, 60 days! The pastor partnered the challenge with the words "If you spend at least 1 hour in your bible a day, you can do it." 1 hour doesn't seem like much when you think about a 24 hour day. Surely we can manage to find time for 1 hour of reading but when you had 8 hours of sleep, an 8 hour work day (more like 10 or 12 for some of you) and the other tedious tasks throughout the day, that 1 hour may feel a little overwhelming.  I thought about all the 365 day reading plans out there to get through the bible in 1 year and I laughed because instead of being hesitant to take the challenge, I was more than excited.

I took the challenge that day and next week will wrap up my 60 day challenge of reading the bible all the way through. This challenge has completely changed my life, my relationship with the Lord and my attitude toward so many things. I know there are others of you who are driven by the same competitive nature inside of me so I want to challenge you to join me in the 60 day challenge. Pick up your bible and spend some amazing quality time with the Lord you won't be able to ignore. Let him move your heart and speak to you through passages you've read in the past and new words you've never laid eyes on. Open your heart and mind to the things He desires to say to you through words written so long ago and be receptive to what you are hearing. I promise you one thing, if you will allow Him to, God is about to move in your life in a mighty way! 

A few suggestions as you embark upon this challenge; 

- Pray. Pray before your time with the Lord asking Him to remove distractions and help you to focus on the things He wants you to hear. Pray that your heart and mind will be open and that you will listen and remember what He is revealing to you. 

- Journal. One of the things I learned in Equipped Disciple is that if you underline or mark a verse it is because the Lord is speaking to your heart and you should take time to meditate on that verse. As I read now, each time I mark something in my bible, I write the verse down in a notebook, thank the Lord for speaking to my heart and write why this verse moved me. When you do this it sinks in more and God is really able to use what He is revealing to you in a bigger way. 

- Find an accountability partner. Satan is really good at making us feel defeated and want to give up. Find someone you can take this challenge with who can help push and motivate you to finish and not give up. 

- Don't save the old testament for last :) This seems silly but it's so true. The old testament can be difficult to read sometimes and many of us are guilty of avoiding it or reading it less than the new testament. I would highly encourage you to read 2 to 3 New testament books and then read one of the harder old testament books after that. 

I don't have an outline or schedule I followed, I just read as my heart lead but if you would like my help or suggestions I would be more than happy to send them to you. Happy reading everyone! 

Royal Treatment

On my flight back to the states I had a 3 hour layover in China. It wasn't long enough to go out and explore the country at all and frankly, all I could think about was getting back to America. So, I found a comfy airport seat, pulled out my coloring books and went to town. While I was minding my own business coloring my dinosaur picture, I heard a beautiful sound. The sound of people speaking English. 

I can't explain to you how nice it is to hear your native language being spoken when for the last 8 months all you've heard is a language you don't understand a word of. Unfortunately, that beautiful sounds I was hearing quickly turned to something not so beautiful as I heard the words "I'll tell you one thing, I'll be da**ed if I get pushed by a Chinese person in my own country. It's my turf, that better not f***ing happen on my turf!" As I heard these words, I turned to see a man, probably in his early 30's telling his mother how much he hates the Chinese people and he is so happy to be leaving the country. 

I couldn't sit there and listen to him berate a culture that had just employed him, sheltered him and provided him financial stability for the last 12 months. I expressed to him that I understood his frustration as I too had endured similar treatment in Korea but I didn't support the way he was choosing to openly belittle this culture. My attempts didn't matter and he didn't see my point of view but our conversation quickly got me thinking. 

There were many times while in Korea that I felt mistreated, unwanted and under appreciated  I wondered how much of that was genuinely what the Korean's felt about me and how much of that was my perception based on things I couldn't understand due the the inability to communicate. 

As I crossed through the Chinese customs lines to catch my next flight to LA, I felt the same way, pushed aside and rushed through the "Foreigner" line. It's a weird feeling to be an immigrant in another country. But then... I arrived in America!! And I realized, China, Korea, and America could all afford some additional training in sensitivity to cultural diversity. As I approached the first line to get through customs at LAX, I was approached by a man who whispered to me "Are you American?" I told him yes and he motioned for me to come with him. He explained I was standing in the U.S. Citizens line but they had allowed non U.S. citizens in "our line" because the lines were so long. I explained to him I had an 11 hour layover and I was in no rush to go to the front of the line to which he replied "But you are American, you deserve to go to the front of the line." I thanked him but told him I was fine waiting. I was completely disgusted by his actions and his ignorance in assuming that just because the people standing around me didn't look the same way I did, does not mean they don't speak English and can't understand every word he is saying. 

I patiently waited through the very long line to get through the first check point to again have the same thing happen in the second line. This time, I was approached by a man in a security uniform. He simply said the words "Come with me," so I did as he said, unsure of why he was pulling me out of the line with at least 20 people standing in front of me. As we moved away from the crowd he said "You are American right?" I answered yes and he said "Okay, come to this line it's much shorter." 

I wasn't wearing my American Flag t-shirt or my Texas Rangers baseball cap so I'm unsure how someone can take a two second look at me and without hearing a word from my mouth just assume I am American. If there is one thing I learned from my time in Korea is that you absolutely can't make an assumption about where someone is from based on their appearance. I met South African's who I assumed where from England. Canadians who I thought were American. In my own journey to self discovery, I realized just how ignorant I was to other cultures and frankly, based on my interactions with the staff at the airport, I believe there are many other's like me who are completely ignorant to the world they are a part of. The Lord has blessed us by allowing us to live in a world filled with people from all walks of life. I look forward to the day we are all embracing that instead of continuing to ostracize ourselves and stay in our comfortable bubble. 

Please remember, 

1. Just because someone is speaking a language other than English, doesn't mean they don't understand the words you are saying. Be aware of the things you are saying and how they can impact the people around you. 

2. As someone who has been an immigrant in another country, I want you to know just how difficult and challenging is. I hope we will all be more sensitive to those around us who do not call America their first home. They have come here for a better life for themselves and their families. Be the body of Christ and show them the love the deserve as humans, regardless of where their family originates. 

Back on American soil

First, I want to apologize for keeping this a secret. The contract with my school was scheduled to end on August 16th and my little sister's college graduation was August 10th. So, with only a week between the two dates, I decided to come home in time for her graduation and in order to surprise her, I had to keep it quiet. I hope you understand.

Here are the answers to the questions I predict you may have. 

1. What happened? Why are you coming home early?

Since April, we have been dealing with daily threats of our school closing, wondering if we would get paid, and stressing about drama between the Korean teachers and the director of our school. After months of threats, blackmail, and being faced with the options of selling or losing his business, the director of our school decided to sell. I met the new owners of the school (the ones responsible for all the threats and blackmail) and I decided I no longer wanted to work for people with such poor character. With the school closing, I was left with 3 choices, work for the new owners, find another school and sign a new contract, or come home. I couldn't imagine signing to spend another year in Korea so my decision was to come home. 

2. What now?

Prior to leaving for Korea, I sold almost everything I owned, all my furniture and belongings as well as my car. Starting over again with nothing to my name, I feel the wisest decision for me is not to return to Dallas at this time. So, I am currently living in Killeen, TX, the city my parents live in and the best part is, it's only 2 and a half hours away from Dallas :) 

3. When will you be back in Dallas?

I'm hoping to make a trip that way the 3rd or 4th week in August. I promise to let everyone know as soon as I know for sure. 

P.S. I have a new phone number so if you message me your number I will send you a text with my new number. 

P.S.S. Killeen has two fabulous places to go two stepping and there is plenty of room to sleep in my parents 5 bedroom house for anyone who feels like a short weekend roadtrip ;) ;) 

I've missed you all so much and I can't wait until I get to see you again.