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The calm after the storm. Taken yesterday, from my balcony, after the typhoon had passed Nagoya.
(2011/09/22)
Good News & a Prayer Request
The Good News: I got my visa extension, and it’s good for 3 more years! Thanks for praying!
The Prayer Request: Tomorrow and Monday is Chukyo Seikai — an annual retreat for the Immanuel Churches in our area. I am helping out with the youth programs with music and a testimony. Please pray for my ministry and for all involved in this event; for safe travel and changed lives.
Thanks!
(Posted on Sat. Sept. 17 2011)
Acts 11:1-18
“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)
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.
Acts 8:4-25
“You can have no part in this, for your heart is not right with God.” (Acts 8:21 NLT)
It s possible to desire good things with the wrong motives. And sometimes we, like Simon, seek the gift rather than the Giver. But God’s gift come as a “package deal” in relationship with Him. And He gets to choose what gifts to give to whom. Lord, You Yourself are more valuable than any gift I could receive from You. I choose to seek You. Please walk with me today.Acts 7:54-8:3
“As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” He fell to his knees, shouting, ‘Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!’ And with that, he died.” (Acts 7:59-60)
Stephen was awesome!
Given the chance to defend himself to his accusers, he instead preached a sermon. He didn’t even try to defend himself. In fact, he accused his accusers. He even boldly proclaimed the very things they would consider blasphemy, referring to Jesus as Lord and God. And Stephen paid for it with his life. Yet even then, he prayed to Jesus and asked that his killers’ sins not be held against them, reflecting Jesus’ grace even in his own death.
I could learn a few things from Stephen about what it means to follow Jesus.
Acts 7:37-53
“However, the Most High does not live in houses made by human hands. As the prophet says: ‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool.
What kind of house will you build for me? says the Lord. Or where will my resting place be? Has not my hand made all these things?'” (Acts 7:48-50 NIV)
Newsletter (Summer/Fall 2011)
Hey everyone,
Here’s my latest newsletter. Please download, read and pray! Also, I am in the middle of applying for my visa extension (my current one being for one year only and running out soon) so I would appreciate your prayers for that over the next week or so.
PRINTABLE VERSION:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/12247320/015-print.pdf LOW-RESOLUTION FOR VIEWING ON YOUR COMPUTER: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/12247320/015-web.pdf Thanks! – robin(Aug. 30 2011)
Acts 4:32-5:11
“All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had.” (Acts 4:32 NLT)
I used to think this description of the early church looked an awful lot like Communism. The major difference, of course, is that there was no government enforcing this sharing of resources. Rather, it was an act of generosity springing up naturally from within their hearts. It was a community of faith working together, putting their faith into action. And shouldn’t that be how the Church works? Shouldn’t generosity be natural for Christians?Acts 4:13-31
“After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.” (Acts 4:31 NLT)
When the Apostles faced persecution, they didn’t run away or pray for protection. They prayed for boldness. Most of us in modern times react very differently, and the “persecution” most of us face is nothing compared to the Believers in Acts. We would do well to follow their example, not praying for God to keep us from harm so much as praying for boldness to share His truth.Acts 4:1-12
“For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, ‘The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.'” (Acts 4:11 NLT)
Jesus died but lives. In Christ, God turned defeat into victory. Death into life. It’s good to know today that He can do the same for us. When we experience loss, He can use that loss for our gain and His glory. Where we are defeated by sin, He can bring victory. Thank You, Lord, for victory in Jesus. Please give me the grace I need to live in that victory and freedom today.