My Beautiful, Exquisite Sister!

 

Recently we celebrated my sister’s birthday.  She and her husband came and we shared dinner and cake and ice cream and presents.  It was fun, and brought back many memories. 

 

In Japan the role of the oldest child is important. The oldest has more responsibility, and must watch over the younger.  Since I am the oldest, I have always felt responsibility for my sister.  I felt it my role to protect her, and to help her as best I could.  Since I have disabilities, some thought she was taking care of me and that she was my security, but in reality, yes, she helped me much.  However, I was stability for her.  We were a good team.

When she got married, I found it hard to part with her.  I love her husband and was glad for her, but there was an empty space in my life.  I realized as we celebrated her birthday, that I still feel a responsibility for her.  I made sure to order a cake I knew she wanted.  I wanted to make sure everything was right for her. 

I thank God for sending her to our family.  She has always encouraged me to grow, and she is and always will be a bright spot in my life.  How I love that beautiful, exquisite sister of mine!

Pancakes or Oatmeal

 

Often my life does not play out like I plan.  I wake up and think “pancakes for breakfast!” But I get oatmeal.  It is good, but not pancakes! 

Or I may think, “Let’s go see Abi, my sister.”   But we clean my room instead.  A necessary event, but not my first choice.  It can make me grumpy! It can make me complain, and fuss at my parents.  Never a good response!

Maybe it would be better to wake up and say, "God what do you have for me today?  Bring it on Lord!  I am ready, because you are walking with me. "

I read in the Old Testament how God walked with the Israelites, but they kept forgetting and coming up with a better idea.  I need to see God’s plan as the best idea and go with it joyfully, expectantly, even.  God’s plans are always amazing, but not always at the time.  Looking back, I see this.  I must practice living in that expectancy and joy, no matter if it pancakes or oatmeal!

 

Every year our family reads through advent passages in our personal devotions.  Because we do it every year, the passages become familiar.  It is easy to read a passage and not even think.  Yet every year God speaks to my heart from different passages. 

This year as I read Isaiah 53, I was deeply impacted with what Jesus came to do for me. Verse 11 says:

 “Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;
by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,
    make many to be accounted righteous,
    and he shall bear their iniquities.”

Yes, Jesus bore my iniquities.  He was willing to die a criminal’s death so I did not have to bear my iniquity, my sin!

My heart is full because of the enormity of what Jesus did for me. 

I am amazed at God’s love!

Rejoice! Jesus Came!

 

Here we are racing through advent, yet I have not blogged yet.  So much going on around me.  However, I am enjoying listening to Christmas music.  One of my favorite Christmas carols is “Joy to the World”.  I sometimes want to shout that out to my world.  The Lord has come!  Wake up and rejoice. 

We recently heard that while Japan has a high life expectancy, they also have a record level of unhappiness.  Many think the reason is a lack of hope. We see it in the faces of the people here. You do not see many joyous people here.

Well, I know a cure!  That cure starts with God. He so loved the world He sent His Son to this broken world.  He made a way for the hope of eternal life.  Now that is cause for rejoicing!

John 3:16 ESV

" “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."

God Is In Control Even of Changes

 

This week my neighbors had to move to a care facility.  They have been my neighbors all my life.  We were friends.  We understood each other. They helped our family all the time.  Our family shared the gospel with them numerous times.  My parents jumped in to support them in the last few years as we watched their health decline. We prayed daily for them.  It is sad to not see them or evidence that they are there.  It is sadder still to not have them make a clear decision for Jesus.  However, I do not give up hope!  I pray we will still have opportunities to share the love of Jesus. I pray they remember Jesus loves them.  I pray they trust Jesus.  I must still trust God to do what is right.  I must remember God is good.  I must remember God is still calling them to Himself.  I miss them.  But God is still in control.

Birthday Reflecions

 

Today as I celebrate my birthday, I have been musing on my life.  I want to revisit something I have written in the past.  Yes, I am autistic with several limitations.  I have many things I cannot do.  However, I want to again say, I am made in God’s image.  I am not a mistake or an embarrassment to God.  I was created uniquely by God for a unique purpose.  It is a purpose only I can fulfill.  I must strive each day to obey my Creator.  I must remember I am of such value to God that He sent His Son to die for me.  So, I will continue to pursue God and His purpose for my life!  I am not perfect, I often fail. But great is God’s faithfulness!  He picks me up and sets me back on track time and time again.  I am blessed to serve God in my unique way.  Praise be to God!

Share Jesus Everywhere

 

Many of you know I love to ride horses.  I have been taking lessons at a local stable for about twenty years.  Over the years I have had many horses and many trainers.  I have had the joy of showing the love of Jesus to many of the trainers.  One man began working there just before I came.  He worked there for about 16 of the years I have been there.  I worked with Mom and we shared Jesus with him.  He was not always my trainer, but he was always there, being sure I was safe and learning.  Four years ago, he was transferred back to his home town.  I had him his last day there.  He told me he still had the Christmas CD I had given him years before.  He walked us out to the entrance that day.  We turned back to wave at him one last time.  He waved back, but he was crying.  I pray he remembers not me, but that God loves him.  I pray he trusts Jesus. I choose to trust Jesus to show him other believers who will show him the love of Jesus, the way to faith. I pray others at that stable see Jesus in me!