My heart is troubled

Those are heavy words.

But today, my heart is troubled.

This morning at 9:45, I got on my bike and rode to Mr. Doughnut.  Just like I have for five weeks before.  I arrived at Mr. Doughnut, and was greeted at the door by Junko.  We had not seen each other in over a week.  We said hello and then we went for the good stuff, Coffee and Doughnuts!!!  As we made our way to the back table {our table} she said, "I am so excited for today."  I was too.  Today was the lesson I had been waiting for.  The ONE.  The lesson that asks the big question in life. 

Do you want to begin your new life with Jesus today?

We sat down and began the general chit chat.  How was your vacation?  Nice weather today, don't you think?  Are you excited about school starting back? 

As we started the Bible study we read . . .

"If you learned that the richest man in your city like you, and wanted to adopts and make you his heir, how would you feel?"

We read John 3:16 and Romans 5:8.  She jotted down notes in both Japanese and English.  She circled words and highlighted in the workbook.  We read that

 

 "But as many as received him,

to them gave he power to become the sons of God,

even to them that believe on his name:"

John 1:12 

 

 We learned about the fruit of the spirit and how God has plans for each of us, even before we were born. 

 

 "But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,"

Galations 1:15 

It was verse 14 that caught her attention.

"And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous

of the traditions of my fathers." 

 Galations 1:14 

". . . . the traditions of my fathers." 

At the end of the lesson a question is asked. 

"There is abundant, eternal life waiting for you.  Further, God has designed a perfect plan for your life.  Would you like to begin this new life today?"

Her reply to this question was, "My heart is troubled."  She then told me she is happy when she comes to church, she is happy when she studies the Bible with me, she is happy when she reads the Bible, but her heart is troubled.  She pointed back to Galations 1:14.  She said, "My heart is troubled." 

You see, she is a Buddhist. Her family is Buddhist. For hundreds of years, her family has been Buddhist.   For many generations they have passed down the family alter. They have celebrated many religious holidays and festivals together. They have prayed to their ancestors together. It is the traditions of her fathers. It is all she has ever known.

But my heart too is troubled.  Not because I don't want to offend my family.  Not because I am afraid of what my friends will think.  Not because of the traditions of my fathers.

My heart is troubled because there are many people all around the world just like her.  Searching for the truth.  Searching for Jesus. 

Lord, keep my heart troubled. 

Keep me upset that people don't know you. 

Keep me searching for ways to shine my light,

to tell others about You. 

Keep my heart troubled. 

And Lord, please open Junko's eyes

to see Your truth soon.

 Amen.

Back to school

It's that time of year again.  Everyone is talking about Back to School.  Facebook has been covered with post about heading back to the classroom.  Some are happy,

"The kids are going back to school and we will finally have a routine again!!  6 more days :) " 

posted one friend. Most of my teacher post are like this,

"Ready for a new school year and ready to meet my students."  

 Some post are filled with sadness as we see our babies are growing up. 

"I can't believe it's Sally's first day of kindergarten.  Where has all the time gone?  How can she be old enough."  Or "I can't believe it's Tommy's LAST first day of school.  How can he be old enough to be a senior in high school?" 

Or maybe it's the child that is sad,

"Summer vacation is over and I am heading back to school.  No more sleeping in, no more swimming all day!!  School work here I come. :( " 

First Day of School 2008

No matter how you feel about school, I have learned that we are always in school.  Always learning something, always being taught, always being tested, always sitting in the classroom of life. 

I find that I am much like the Israelite children.  I sometimes complain about where I am. "Why are my kids always arguing with each other?"  Complain about the water being too bitter. "Oh, I can't believe that this happened." Complain about the manna I have been given. "I wish I had a car, a better bike, a bigger kitchen . . . "  Sometimes I think back to "Egypt" and wish I could just go back, even though I was not happy in "Egypt". 

 I don't always pass my test that God gives me.  I don't always listen to the lessons.  Sometimes my heart and eyes wonder off.  I take my attention off the Instructor and focus on something else.  Then, uh oh, it's a pop quiz.  Something comes up in life, kids get sick, I have a bad day, husband has a bad day, dinner gets burned, laundry does not get dry and now smells sour.  How do I handle this?  Do I take it to God?  Do I tell my Jesus about it and let him fix it?  Most of the time, NO!  Most of the time I take my mess and I work on it.  I try to fix it.  I yell at the kids for arguing over Lego's, I blame others for my mistakes. 

After a while, once I have made a bigger mess, I take it to God.  I hand over all the broken pieces of the day and say, "Jesus, can you help me please?"  And each and every time He does.  He take the pieces and begins to work on them.  Sometimes this means I have to go tell my kids, "I'm sorry, I didn't handle today very well."  Sometimes it may take a while for God to fix the damage that has been done. 

But again, I pull myself back up to the desk.  Grab a pen, a notebook and my Bible.  I turn my eyes back toward the Instructor and listen to what He has to say.  I try very hard to pay attention and be ready for the pop quizzes of life.  I try to be ready for the big test too.  I know that God has a plan and a purpose for me.  I am trying to be less of me and more of Him.  This is what Jesus meant when he said,

And he said to them all,

If any man will come after me,

 let him deny himself, and

 take up his cross daily,

and follow me.Luke 9:23

Are you currently in the middle of a pop quiz?  A big test?  Are you giving it over to God to handle or are you taking care of things yourself?  Today my goal is to give it all over to God.  Every thing that comes up, big or small. 

God guild me in your ways. 

Week 6 - And that's all I know about that

Welcome to our 6th and final week of  . . . . And that's all I know about that.

I sure hope you have enjoyed hearing from these ladies.  I know I have enjoyed and been blessed by what they all have to share.  I love how God can use each of us, from different backgrounds, with different talents and different visions to reach so many people.  It just reminds me of the disciples {a doctor, a tax collector, fishermen, . . . . } all different, all able to reach someone with the gospel that others could not.  God is good all the time!!

Well, this week I would like for you to meet

Becky Winters

Becky and I met at Baptist Bible College.  She was on my floor freshman year, Donaldson 1st.  She was from Boston.  I was from Texas.  I was in love with her accent.  After our freshman year, we lost touch, we both got married (almost a month apart) and started our families.  It was not until June 2010 that we saw each other again.  Mike and I came to Japan on our survey trip and the Winters opened their home to us for two weeks.  We were able to start our friendship again.  Now two years later, we are living in the same city, working along side each other, ministering in Japan.  God is good all the time!!

Mike, Becky, Ethan, Kayla, Alyssa

I have been told I am now considered a veteran missionary.  I’m not sure what that means, but I guess I am now one.  I still feel like I have so much to learn, but really I suppose we all do!  Our family has been missionaries here on the southern island of Kyushu, Japan for nine years now.  I love it and it has become my home. If you had asked me if I would ever consider Japan our home while we were on deputation I would have said no, but I suppose that when packing up to go on furlough and feeling emotional about leaving the country God has called you to….. it has become your home. 

Our two older kids were four and three when we arrived in Japan and our youngest was born here in Japan.  Ethan will be fourteen in less than a month, Kayla is twelve and Alyssa is five.  Without really realizing it or aiming to do so they have been raised bi-culturally.  They all Speak English and Japanese, know some words in ONLY English or Japanese, can all eat with chop sticks or a fork, and when we go back on furlough, take their shoes off at the entry way of Grampy and Lala’s house before going in to give them a hug.  It wasn’t until recently that I realized especially in our two oldest that they are truly bi-cultural kids.  They don’t really realize it because to them it is what “normal” is. 

Living in a foreign country requires learning a different way of life.  We can keep our home American as much as possible, but there are just some things we have to learn to do differently.  For instance, no dryer….everything gets hung outside to dry.  Living in a country that has a rainy season, this is a learning process.  I have discovered that by doing laundry at night and hanging it inside the house overnight, it will be just about dry by morning; but do it in the morning and hang it inside the house all day long and it will still be damp and smelly by supper time.  I cannot explain this….just take my word for it! 

One of the biggest lessons I have learned over the years is to be flexible.  Things change, circumstances change, people change and we have to sometimes make adjustments accordingly.  Two of my favorite verses is  Philippians 4:11 “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”  2 Corinthians 3:5 “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God.”  I haven’t always liked the changes that needed to be made, but God has always enabled me to accept them and to be content. 

My last bit of knowledge as a veteran missionary is this: empty ketchup bottles and dish soap bottles make very good bath or pool toys!

…..and that’s all I know about that!

His wounds have paid my ransom

I can not come up with words big enough,

 great enough

or powerful enough

to express the emotion from

the church service on Sunday, August 5, 2012.

I will let these song lyrics say it all.

How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon the cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice,
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

Please watch this video from church this Sunday.

At the end you will see a beautiful lady being baptised.

She accepted Christ as her Savior this past week.

Please be in prayer for our church. 

We currently have three other ladies who are searching for answers.

Junko is one of them. 

She was there on Sunday.

After church she told me,

"It was very emotional for me to watch."

I answered -

"For me too!"