by Whitey | Sep 28, 2011 | Thoughts, Uncategorized
主よ。私は弱いです。できないことが多いですが、神様はできます。私の強さになてください。今日、導いてください。一人ではなくて感謝しています。
“But when they opposed and insulted him, Paul shook the dust from his clothes and said, “Your blood is upon your own heads. I am innocent. From now on I will go preach to the Gentiles.” (Acts 18:6)
When Paul — or, more accurately, Paul’s message — was rejected, he simply moved on. And like Paul, we are not responsible for people’s responses. That is between them and God. We are responsible to be faithful to what God has called us to do.
“One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, “Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent! For I am with you, and no one will attack and harm you, for many people in this city belong to me.” (Acts 18:10-11 NLT)
The good news is that we are not alone. We have each other. And, even more, God is with us. We don’t have to live or minister in our own strength.
Dear Lord, I am weak. Be my strength today. Help me to be faithful to do what You call me to do, and to trust You to do what no one else can. Thank You that I am not alone.
by Whitey | Sep 26, 2011 | Thoughts, Uncategorized
“And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth.” (Acts 17:11 NLT)
The Bereans are commended here for being open-minded. But it’s interesting to note that they didn’t just listen and blindly believe what they were taught. They studied the Scriptures for themselves. They compared what they were being taught to the Word to see if it lined up. They thought for themselves.
Being open-minded doesn’t mean blindly accepting whatever we’re taught. But it does mean we listen. Then, we search and study and pray to arrive at the truth.
And true faith isn’t blind or mindless either. It includes this kind thinking and searching and asking. I think that such wrestling with big ideas and questions is part of what it means to have faith. These struggles can increase our faith.
We may never know all the answers to all our questions, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t ask.
by Whitey | Sep 25, 2011 | Thoughts, Uncategorized
“Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God,
and the other prisoners were listening.” (Acts 16:25 NLT)
I have to wonder if this would be my reaction to being beaten and
throne in prison. When I’m stressed or lonely or afraid, is it my
first reaction to turn to God in prayer and worship? Or is that a
last resort? It’s so easy in our comparatively small trials to let
ourselves look to other things for comfort. But God is our comfort
and strength in hard times, as well as our constant companion in
everyday life.
So why wait? In good times or bad, let’s seek the Lord. Let’s
worship Him because He’s worthy, no matter what we’re going through.
As we do, we can be a light to those around us, as Paul and Silas were
to their fellow prisoners and their captors.
by Whitey | Sep 24, 2011 | Uncategorized
Yukata Party. Okay, not really a party. Just me hanging out with some youth (in our hotel-provided yukatas) before bed Sunday night at the retreat I was ministering at. Good times.
(posted 2011/09/24)
by Whitey | Sep 22, 2011 | Uncategorized
The calm after the storm. Taken yesterday, from my balcony, after the typhoon had passed Nagoya.
(2011/09/22)
by Whitey | Sep 9, 2011 | Thoughts, Uncategorized
“And since God gave these Gentiles the same gift he gave us when we
believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to stand in God’s way?”
(Acts 11:17 NLT)
Am I partnering with God in His work, or getting in His way? Today,
my prayer is that I will hear His voice, listen and obey, not letting
my prejudices, preconceptions, fears or doubts hold me back. May I get
out of the way and let God do His thing.
