Newsletters

 Stuffed to Space

(The Forge Newsletter, April 2026)

“Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” (Genesis 2:7)

1. Instruments need space in order to sound properly
Wind instruments such as flutes and trumpets have an internal space through which air passes. Likewise, string instruments like guitars and percussion instruments like drums also have some kind of space inside them that allows the sound to resonate. If a flute had no inner space, or if a drum were completely filled with something and had no space inside, air could not pass through and resonance could not occur, so the sound we expect would not come out. In this way, most musical instruments can produce beautiful and mysterious sounds because they have space inside them that allows air to pass through or vibration to occur.

2. Hollowing out the inside is much harder than shaping the outside
When God formed Adam from the dust, did He also create space inside him for air to flow and blood to circulate? Making the outer shape is still relatively easy, but making the inner organs or blood vessels is by no means easy and takes a long time. And yet God must have made the internal organs and blood vessels. No matter how wonderfully and beautifully Adam was made, if God’s breath did not enter him and blood did not flow through him, he would be nothing more than a handsome lump of dirt.

3. Without space, life cannot flow
Until now, I had thought that God made only Adam’s outward form from the dust. But God made not only Adam’s outward appearance; He also created very intricate spaces inside him for air to enter, and intricate blood vessels through which blood would flow. So when God breathed into Adam’s nostrils, his body, which had been shrivelled up, began to expand and come to life, like an inflated balloon. Unless the breath of God, the wind of God, comes into us, we will either live a crushed life like a deflated balloon or become a frozen monument like a handsome mannequin or the lifeless army in the Valley of Dry Bones. But when God’s breath enters us, it makes our previously hunched chests straighten, gives confidence to those who were discouraged, and brings movement that carries us forward.

4. If there is no place for the Word, people end up killing Jesus
Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in Him: “I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet because there is no room in you for my word, you are looking for a way to kill me.” (John 8:37) Even though they believed in Jesus, was it not perhaps because their hearts were full of religious tradition or ambition? Or perhaps their inner lives were so filled with worldly things that there was no place for His word to enter. When my life becomes too busy and crowded, my heart is trampled and hardened like the path-side soil, and the seed that falls on such soil cannot take root; instead, it becomes food for the birds(Satan). In other words, if there is no place for Jesus’ word within believers, it ultimately leads to dishonouring and killing Jesus.

5. Will we make an invisible space, or a visible monument?
God made people from dust, using the Hebrew verb yatzar (יָצַר), which is like a potter placing a lump of clay on a potter’s wheel and shaping it by applying pressure with his hands. If we compare the time and effort God spent making Adam’s outward form with the time and effort He spent making the inner organs and spaces, the effort spent refining the inside must have been dozens of times greater. How much effort am I putting into creating space within myself to receive His word and His breath? Am I living contentedly by decorating only what is visible on the outside? Am I pouring my life into making a monument for people to see, rather than into the dynamic movement of the kingdom of God?

6. God works when I empty myself and make room
The Hebrew word for God breathing into Adam’s nostrils is naphach (נָפַח), which means “to blow” or “to breathe into, causing to swell.” This is like what Jesus did after His resurrection when He appeared to His disciples, breathed on them, and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit,” and like Ezekiel’s command to the four winds to come into the army made of dry bones. (John 20:22; Ezekiel 37:9) For God to work in me, there must be space inside me, and for Him to work through me, there must be room for Him within me. If I fill myself with my own things, then He can only work at my level, and I end up taking the glory for myself. That is why God reduced Gideon’s army again and again, until room was made for God’s place. We want to fill ourselves more, equip ourselves more, and work according to our own methods and level, but God works by reducing and emptying so that He may act according to His own methods and His own level.

[ Prayer & Intercession ]

1. The world is heading toward an age of disorder

We judge by what we can see, but we must not overlook what is happening in the spiritual realm. This world is increasingly moving toward disorder and anarchy, but the kingdom of God is advancing fearlessly and establishing a new order from God. Without God’s law (His word), people, like in the days of the judges, run in disorder according to what seems right in their own eyes. Even in those who are successful, they are so full of themselves that there is no room for God’s word. Even among those who believe in Jesus, there is no room for the Word, so they act according to their own thoughts, their own plans, and their own ambitions. We pray that wise leaders will be raised up who fear God rather than people. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts have good understanding. His praise endures forever.” (Psalm 111:10)

2. God will establish His throne in Iran
No matter how people may view it politically, militarily, or religiously, God says that He will establish His throne in Iran (Elam), destroy its rulers, and in the latter days bring back the captives of Elam. This can also be understood as restoring Elam’s former prosperity.

Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the chief of their might. And I will bring against Elam the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and I will scatter them to all those winds, and there shall be no nation to which those driven from Elam shall not come. I will terrify Elam before their enemies and before those who seek their life. I will bring disaster upon them, my fierce anger, declares the LORD. I will send the sword after them until I have consumed them. And I will set my throne in Elam and destroy their king and officials there.” declares the LORD. “But in the latter days I will bring again the exile(שׁבית = exile, prisoners, a former state of prosperity) of Elam.” declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 49:35–39)

“Elam” (עילם) means “hidden,” “distant,” or “eternity,” and its root verb, alam (עלם), means “to cover,” “to conceal,” or “to blind.” Then might this nation of Elam (Persia, Iran), like a treasure hidden in a field, now be concealed behind the black veil of Islam and not fully reveal its beauty, yet be God’s eternal treasure hidden for His special time? (Taken from The Forge Newsletter, January 2026. More to read.…)

3. When God created by His word, there was chaos, emptiness, and darkness
At the time God created the world, the earth was chaotic, empty, and covered in darkness. That state is precisely the optimal condition for God’s word to enter and work. If something is already full, God’s word cannot enter. After Korea lost its country to Japan, and after the Korean War when everything was destroyed, God’s word began to enter people properly when there was nothing left. Even today, in countries that are wealthy economically, God’s word is generally treated coldly, but in poorer countries people thirst for the word of God. We often lack what we want because we do not have enough, but if we have too much, God cannot do through us what He desires. That is why God reduced Gideon’s army again and again in order to make room for Himself. We are now living in an age of crisis and disorder, but at the same time this is an opportunity for God’s word to work and for the kingdom of God to advance.

[ News Updates ]

1. Ruptured herniated disc
At the end of last November, after my mother passed away, I strained myself somewhat while sorting out and cleaning up things at home. Then at the end of February, my older sister had major surgery, so I went back to Korea as her caregiver. Two days before my sister was admitted to the hospital, I had severe pain in my back, and in the end I was diagnosed with a ruptured herniated disc. I went to Korea as my sister’s caregiver, but I ended up becoming the patient myself. Because of the ruptured disc, all my plans were thrown off or canceled, and I stayed in Korea for about three weeks, combining rest and treatment. I cannot help but confess that as my plans were disrupted, God’s plan was being fulfilled.

2. The Forge School (“Father’s Heart”)
Seungae initiated this Forge School, and the Lord gave us this theme of his Father heart. It was a joint school this time, with two days for the guys to do Men’s Forge in their own style while we had some Ladies time together. The Lord brought some very special new ladies to join us, as well as some old friends. We were all seasoned, mature Christians with a heart for intercession, but we also had all been shaped by painful childhood experiences and loss, and were able to share our journeys and our struggles. By the grace of God we experienced new freedom, breakthrough and healing in our sharing together and in His presence. It was a special time.

3. Home Education
HOPEducation is the new Home Education group that I have ended up running! I shared in an earlier newsletter how God led me step by step to set up classes at the Botanical Gardens for home educating families like ourselves. We are now well into the third term, and have expanded the range of classes to include Outdoor Learning and Horticulture, a speciality of the Gardens Team. Our initial charity bid was not successful, but we are applying for various kinds of funding to continue all our classes and add in some Arts Awards and Outdoor Activities. The admin load is rather heavy for me as it is not my natural gifting, so pray with me for others to join in the organisation. It is incredible to see over 35 families attending the various classes, and over 45 children between 5 and 15 years of age playing and learning together. (written by Bridget)

4. Noah’s return from Korea to the U.K.
Noah, who began studying Hangul in Korea last September, will finish his third term on May 22 and is scheduled to return to Wales on June 11. In the meantime, Noah took the English exam(TOEIC) in preparation for applying to the American Division of the Korean Army (KATUSA) and scored 980 out of 990. Noah plans to study Modern French at Lancaster University in the UK, which begins in early September. He plans to go into the military either by taking leave part way through University, or after completing his studies.

5. The Forge House Renovation
After more than 10 years living in our amazing Forge Community House, we felt the need to do some fairly substantial work to the outside of our house. We live in a damp climate, it’s an old house, and we have hired a local brother to put another layer of rendering all around the outside, as well as clean and fix all the guttering. So, our house is currently covered in scaffolding and work in progress. Hopefully this will keep the damp out for another 20 years, and make the house look beautiful too!

7. Pray for Youth & University Student Camps
About three years ago, God began to raise up youth and young adults in the UK. There will be camps and gatherings for the next generation in June and July. Please pray that they will encounter Jesus, grow in the Word and in the Holy Spirit, and become people who influence the world with the Kingdom of God.

Shalom!

Qday LEE

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