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February 13, 2013

Psalm 1:2 – “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.”

 

We started this year with the word of Psalm 1:2. It was also our previous year’s key verse. But I wanted to know and to be strengthened by the Word of God more. So I chose it again. To achieve this, I wanted to read the entire Bible. I listened to the audio Bible while commuting to work and tried to stay focused on God. We also had Bible reading conferences two times; one on June 30 and another on Nov. 16. Without any other program, we focused only on reading the Bible and shared with each other our thoughts. When we focused on reading the Word of God, we could re-discover God’s word. Many times I said, “Wow, I didn’t know this word was here.” Also I could learn how to live before God and men as a man of God.

 

In the first half of the year we tried to meet more often for prayer. So we got together and prayed in the evening once a week for two to three months. It was a very small meeting with only two people praying for Ireland and Europe. However, when I review the past year, I can see my God heard and answered numerous practical prayer topics. For some prayer topics, I only prayed a few times and then forgot. But later I could find they were answered by God and I could thank God. I pray that we may meet for prayer continually and pray in faith and experience more answer from God.

 

In April, I encountered Tony, a Chinese student who had come to our Bible school many years ago. Due to the current economic crisis in Ireland, he was going to return to China, like many other Chinese. However, when he had received a working visa, he changed his plan and wanted to do a master's degree. Thankfully he did not lose his interest in the Bible either. So far we have been building a good friendship. I pray that he may start a Bible study soon.

 

This year M. Anna got a lot better in her health, by God’s grace, and also through the prayers of shepherds and missionaries. Meeting and developing friendships with a few Koreans and also exercise might have contributed too. In the meantime, she also completed two year English transfer course in the Cyber Hankuk University of Foreign Studies. She will graduate this coming Feb. Through consistent study, she could overcome stress from the language and even started doing interpretation and translation work. I thank God for restoring her health and for the positive progress in the language. I pray that she may restore her spirituality through faithful Bible reading and prayer so that she may engage in sharing the Good News once again.

 

The key verse for the year 2013 is Romans 12:1,2 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” I pray that we may not conform to the pattern of this world, but we may discern what pleases God and we may offer our bodies as a holy, living sacrifice to God.

 

Prayer topics are:

One Word: Offer your body as a living sacrifice

 

By John Park