Thanks Be Unto HIS Name!

Well, I'm finally back to the blogging world, at least for the next few minutes! I decided it was a good time praise the ONE who is in control of all and holds each of us in the palm of HIS hands. I have had some very discouraging days over the past few weeks. Yet in the midst of it all, God, my faithful Friend, has shown me HIS great mercy and the love HE has for those who wait on and rest in HIM. HE has also brought to light many things for which to be thankful! God is so creative in the ways that HE encourages us. He is also very crafty in allowing those encouragements to come to us at just the right time.
Over the last week or so, HE has allowed many people from back home to "randomly" e-mail or message me with the encouragement that God had placed me on their hearts and they were praying for me. Several of those times, I had just been in the position of thinking, "I could really use some prayer---in addition to my own---right now." Sometimes, just a small note of a few words is just what is needed to kick me in the butt, remind me that God is faithful beyond my understanding, and get me up on my feet and moving for HIS purposes again. Thanks to you "encouragers" out there who allowed God to use you to spur me on.
Let me briefly share a list of things I am thankful for:
1. A sweet friend of mine who is also a teacher and one of the other mom's at school took me to Costco to get some "Americanized" food items. Hopefully, I can pack on the 15 pounds I've dropped off since I arrived here. I had a great time hanging out with these women and am greatly indebted to them for their service and help.
2. God's sovereignty! I'm still living in faith of that very thing I'm thankful for. Often times, I have no clue what HE's doing in my life or with my life, but I can rest in the promises of HIS word and trust that HE's doing what's best according to HIS plan.
3. Louie Giglio, Chris Tomlin, David Crowder, Matt Redman, and Francis Chan! The Passion World Tour was in Seoul this weekend, and I felt like I was at home. I was partly "at home" in that I was surrounded by my extended family in Christ! It was a great day and a half of worship and focus on Daddy God! I love when people from different nations and tongues join together and worship God, especially in song!
4. My team teachers! They are so helpful and patient with me---the new classroom teacher. They are good about sharing ideas and encouraging me. What a blessing!
5. Religious freedom in my classroom! God has really been working in our Bible times each day at school. Bible is absolutely my favorite subject to teach. This past week, my students were given the opportunity to write their personal testimonies about how they accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord of their lives. Those who are not yet Christians wrote about another topic related to Christ as God in the flesh. I was so encouraged to read them. I was also brokenhearted by those students who shared reasons why they weren't Christians or weren't allowed by their parents to be Christians. That brings me to the next thing I'm thankful for:
6. Prayer!! God hears them, works through them, and always ANSWERS them! Thank you so much to those of you who have been praying for me and my precious kids. I have definitely felt them and seen them at work! You'll never know how much you're doing for the sake of spreading the Gospel here in Korea!
7. Family! My family rocks!! I love and miss them so much, but they are quick to encourage me in the LORD and to keep my mind and heart focused on Jesus and the ministry HE's called me to. There is a beautiful 2 year old girl who better run for her life come Christmas, for she will constantly be wrapped up in hugs and smothered by kisses from me! I'll have to think of some amazing game to incorporate those into every moment, so she's not freaked out by this hugging and kissing maniac!
Well, I'm still at work and am exhausted! I'm going to cut this off and head home! I love you all and pray that you'll find things to be thankful for this week, even if things are a little bleak or challenging right now!