Here's to Opportunities

Sooo.... I had this really long to-do list for today, and not a whole lot on it got done.  Doesn't make me feel super-accomplished.

However, I did spend a few hours with one of the girls from my lifegroup today that was very productive.  On Sunday we had a great lifegroup time.  Though we didn't do the study that I had planned for us to continue, it was a really good time of sharing and this particular girl opened up and shared some stuff.  So, it ended up being a good time of ministry and encouragement.

Today I met up with her for some coffee, which turned into walking around Machida, doing lots of window shopping and great conversation.  She shared about her journalling time and we talked more in depth about that.  Then she's getting some vision and on track with God for her life.  She had been reflecting a lot on a question I brought up in Lifegroup about a month ago maybe-- What are the dreams we have in life?  For whom are we using them and how can we glorify God with them?  How do we use the opportunities that we have now?  What are the opportunities that we have now?

Well, a couple of questions I brought up, I guess.

But we talked about getting into the Word of God, having friendship with God, relationships... it was a really really good time.  I felt like it was definitely God-given and God had a chance to minister through it.  And! It was in Japanese!

So, anyhow, that is my day.  It seems like the last 72 hours, things have really picked up and seemed to get busier.  Every 12 hours it feels like I hear about something new.  :)  But that's good!  However, I'm going to be smarter than I was last year and not overwork myself, but find balance.  Overworking and overstressing yourself is not a good thing.

Well, looking forward to what the future holds... and enjoying the "now" moments too.  How about you?

Food for Thought

It's raining, and I'm afraid for the moment being, there isn't too much super exciting news.

I was supposed to go visit my friend's Uni(versity) today, but she woke up not feeling well, and so... well, lunch plans cancelled.  That's ok, I got a head start on stuff so that I don't have to do it tomorrow, which is my day off.

Sunday's FUSE was good.  It was a great message about living your best and what you're using to build your life out of-- things that last or things that don't.  Mark shared the story of John and David Livingstone.  Did you know David Livingstone had a brother?  I didn't.  They both grew up in a fairly wealthy household, and John went on to build a business and focus on making money, etc.  David felt God was calling him to do a couple of things-- explore Africa, which was his dream, and take the Gospel with him.  John thought David was crazy, but he took the risk anyway and went to follow his dreams-- but with a purpose behind it.

David died in Africa.  However, on John's gravestone when he died was written: the brother of David Livingstone.  Who remembers John Livingstone?  Who remembers David?

It was really interesting I thought.  It doesn't mean that you can't have a business and make money, etc., but whatever your dream in life is-- what are you going to use it for?  You only get one shot at life-- you can choose to live a mediocre life, or you can choose to follow your dreams and live the life and have all the God wants you to have and use it to build into and impact people's lives.  You choose now what you want.

I have been thinking a lot about that, and about something Mark said yesterday as well-- Let's not be people who live by rules and make rules, but people who live with vision and wanting what God wants for us.

It's kinda the difference between being legalistic/living by a set of rules/ways of doing things the Christian way and having a great relationship with God and an amazing life that can leave a legacy.

It's all about having that relationship with God in your life all the time.

Anyway... that's my blurb today.  I'm going to go work on a few not-so-exciting projects that are a part of life anyway.  :)

Have a great day people.

It's MAY! You know what that means!!....

So it's Golden Week here in Japan.  Golden Week is like a series of back-to-back holidays here in Japan.  Everyone seems to be off work and school, there are sales everywhere and it's a lovely time as we are getting into the really beautiful weather here in Japan. (team JS- Janine and Saki!)

On Sunday, I had the opportunity to share the message.  I shared on the freedom we have in Christ.  Freedom from what oppresses, freedom for the future, how to protect and use your freedom.  Saki also had her first time translating a "full" message (she did a 10 minute one right after the earthquake).  She did a great job!!

I sent her my notes ahead of time and then we got together on Saturday evening to go over any questions she may have had.  It was cool to be a part of her doing something new and to encourage her in the moment.  I had complete confidence that she was going to be able to do it!

Afterward, Manami joined us for lifegroup at our normal restaurant we head to.  It seemed most of the lifegroups decided to do the same study on freedom, since that was our topic at FUSE.  Anyway, we were reading a section of Scripture in Romans.  Saki shared some, I shared a bit, and then I asked Manami about the verses. 

She paused for a minute, and she goes, beforehand, if I had read this, I wouldn't have been able to understand it.  But now, after the message, I understand what this means. 

She went on to comment about it, but really I was blessed.  I was like, you know, that's the best thing that you can say.  If no one had received anything else (which I know wasn't the case), but it's worth it to know you are helping others grow and understand God's Word.

Well, I'm off to bed for the evening... I have a lot of projects to get to in the morning!!