by Whitey | Feb 22, 2012 | Thoughts, Uncategorized
“…how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (v. 13)
In His teaching here about prayer, Jesus doesn’t promise us that we will receive everything we think we want. But He does promise that we will receive what we need. And what we need — or rather, who we need — is the Holy Spirit.
God offers us Himself. He promises that those who week Him will find Him. But so often we seek other things to fill that hole. This affects both how we pray and how we live.
Father God, I pray for more of Your Holy Spirit in my life. May it be You that I seek, You who are my purpose, goal, center and life. Please purify my prayer life, my priorities, my heart. Lord, teach me to pray.
by Whitey | Feb 17, 2012 | Thoughts, Uncategorized
“Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place
to lay his head.” (v. 58)
“No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service
in the kingdom of God.” (v. 62)
These statements from Jesus are challenging words for modern
Christians in modern nations, who want comfort and security and
ease… things that Jesus never guaranteed His followers. In fact, not
only did He not guarantee these things, He promised that following Him
would not be easy.
Those of us who do have it easy should stop and think, in light of
words like these. Am I following Jesus or simply a convenient form of
religion? Does Jesus have all of me? Is Jesus really everything to
me if following Him hasn’t cost me anything?
Again, let my prayer be “Take the world but give me Jesus.”
by Whitey | Feb 14, 2012 | Uncategorized
Would you believe these 3 photos were all shot on the same street? They are. Such is Japan.
by Whitey | Feb 14, 2012 | Thoughts, Uncategorized
'Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?'" (v. 23-25)
Sometimes my response to life's disappointments is… disappointing. I'm more selfish than I'd like to admit. I don't like it when I don't get my own way, I don't like waiting, I want comfort and fulfillment and success and…
Here Jesus calls me to something higher, something better. To give my ALL to Him. It's a high calling. Many days I fail to live up to it. Which is why I need His grace. And by His grace, here and now, I make this my prayer….
"Take the world, but give me Jesus."
by Whitey | Feb 13, 2012 | Thoughts, Uncategorized
“Take nothing for the journey — no staff, no bag, no bread, no money,
no extra tunic.” (v. 3)
These are the instructions Jesus gave the 12 when He sent them out in
His name. And yet how often do I worry or complain that I don’t have
all I need? Or… want? Jesus wants us to trust Him.
Just a few verse later, Jesus dramatically illustrates His point when
miraculously feeds 5000 people. God is more than able to provide for
our needs, and in this case gave the people more than they needed, as
the 12 baskets of leftovers show.
God will take care of us as we trust Him with our lives and follow His lead.
As Jesus says elsewhere, “seek first his kingdom and his
righteousness, and all all these things will be given to you as well.”
(Matthew 6:33)
by Whitey | Feb 3, 2012 | Thoughts, Uncategorized
“Looking at his disciples, he said: ‘Blessed are you who are poor…'”
Many of Jesus gave up a lot to follow Him, such as those who left their boats and nets (their livelihood) on the shore and walked away. Some gave up everything to follow Jesus.
What about you?
What about me?
by Whitey | Feb 1, 2012 | Ministry News
Hi everyone,
Thank you for your prayers over the past month! Unfortunately I’ve been sick with the flu this week. But God has been at work in my ministry anyway.
I had to skip
English Club this Sunday, but fortunately I have a good group of volunteers who proved their worth by taking over for me at the last minute. An American friend was helping out this time, too, and I had her on deck to do a testimony instead of my usual devotional. So that was well timed. I’d also sent not only a schedule for the event, but detailed instructions for the games, so they could lead those without me.
It feels like God knew I was gonna get sick and led our plans accordingly. And it turns out we had
the biggest crowd yet, with 35 people, 17 of whom were guests. I’m so thankful for the ministry team I’ve got at my church, and that this ministry is bigger than me. And best of all, spiritual seeds were planted in the hearts of 17 guests!
I’d still have rather not gotten sick, but it’s been a good reminder that it’s not about me. God is at work in Japan, and sometimes He works through me… but sometimes
in spite of me.
Here are some things you can be praying for this month:
1. The Immanuel Church (the denomination GP partners with in Japan) is having their
General Conference this month, where they’ll be choosing a new Superintendant and making other important descisions about the future of the denomination. Please pray that they’ll know and follow God’s heart in these meetings.
2. Please pray for this
Friday’s English Cafe. Pray that I’ll be feeling better, for a good turn-out, and for good conversations that point to Jesus.
3. Pray for me as
I lead worship on Feb. 8 during at my church’s prayer meeting.
4. Please pray for my ministry with Nagoya-Higashi Church
youth group on Feb. 11.
5. We’re preparing to start a
new kids’ English class in March, and will be doing a demo lesson / Q&A time for parents on Feb. 14. Please pray for new students.
Thank you for partnering with me in building spiritual bridges in Japan!
– Robin
by Whitey | Jan 25, 2012 | Thoughts, Uncategorized
“Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” (v. 8)
Real repentence isn’t just feeling sorry for our sins, but turning from it and choosing to live differently. It means to follow Jesus and live in a way that produces “fruit” — brings positive results to our lives and the lives of those around us.
It’s interesting to note here that when his audience asks him what they should do, the kind of fruit John tells them to produce is all related to money and possessions. He says, for example, “The man who has two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.” (v. 11) And throughout the gospels, Jesus too comes back to this idea again and again.
I guess Jesus and John both knew that how we use our money and possessions shows our priorities, our hearts. Their example and teaching point us toward living as simply as possible so that we can more freely give and serve.
This is a pretty big challenge to our modern, materialistic ways of living. Are we letting society influence us into confusing our needs with selfish desires? Or are we willing to follow the way of Christ and live more simply, with less stuff, so that we can give more to help those in need?
Father God, I have everything I need, and then some. Thank You for providing for my needs. Teach me to use what I have in a way that honors You and furthers Your Kingdom.
(Sent from my iPad)
by Whitey | Jan 23, 2012 | Thoughts, Uncategorized
I love now eager the shepherds in this story are. After they heard about Jesus, they quickly went to see Him for themselves. And after seeing Him, they quickly spread the word to others. And they returned home praising God for the things they’d seen and heard.
I want to be more like these shepherds, seeking to experience more of Jesus, eagerly sharing the good news with others, and praising God enthusiastically as I go about my daily life.
Lord, my prayer today is that You will deepen my desire to know You, to share You and to worship You.
by Whitey | Jan 21, 2012 | Thoughts, Uncategorized
Here Zechariah reminds us that God fulfills His promises. Today I’m thankful for our faithful and trustworthy God. May I be found faithful to Him.
神様が約束を果たしてくださるのは思い出されました。今日、頼もしきて信頼できる神様を感謝しています。私も頼もしい人になりますように。
