Obedience

Seeing a good friend flat in bed in the hospital is not fun.  When that friend is like family it is worse.  Recently I visited an elderly friend who was in such a state.  I was sad to see pain and fear and sadness in her eyes.  I am definitely not a fan of hospitals.  I was not eager to go, but I did it because God told me it was right.  I was not sure what to do. When we got there, I knew just what to do.  I needed to hold her hand in mine.  I needed to pray for her.  I needed to remind her I loved her.  So that is what I did.  I held her hand over and over.  I tried to not do silly things that would embarrass her.  I prayed.  It was not comfortable for me, but then she was not in a comfortable place, either. I needed to rise above myself and show her love.  It was My God given job.  While I still do not like hospitals, if God sends me to call again I will go because it is not about my comfort.  It is all about being obedient under all circumstances.  Even in hard ones.

Brazil: Doing Kingdom Work

This summer we went to Sao Paulo, Brazil with a short term team from Japan.  In Brazil we joined a team from the States to work helping a relatively new church serve their neighborhood and paint the inside of the church.  We did not do anything extraordinary.  We painted, moved furniture, and cleaned.  It was mundane work that did not require great language skills. One member of the Japan team and I knew Portuguese.  Since I know it but cannot speak much it took great faith for our team.  There were times we just quietly did the task assigned to us.  We often worked alongside Brazilian believers and accomplished the day’s task.  Words were few, but smiles and hugs were abundant.  We demonstrated the body of Christ functioning together to show Jesus to the world.  We got hot, tired, and dirty. 

The Brazilian Christians took care of us.  We made more work for them in many ways.  The drove us to our destinations.  They gave up their beds for us.  They cooked great food to nourish us.  They tried to communicate with us.  They shared their music, and even let me participate.  They shared the love of Jesus with us. 

We went to Brazil as strangers to these people and left as family.  In their eyes we saw they resembled our Heavenly Father.  We felt the heat of their passion for Jesus, and it sparked new flames of our own passion. We left Brazil feeling we had experiences a small preview of heaven.  It sharpened our longing for the day when we will all stand before Jesus and sing praise to the King.  I am sure some of that music will be Brazilian.  I sure hope so. 

Until that day we will be faithful to do Kingdom work here.  Some in Brazil, some in the States, some in Japan.  Because the real point is to be obedient to the task.  So I am back in Japan doing my work for Jesus. Our friends in Brazil are doing their work for Jesus.  Our friends in the States are doing their work for Jesus.  Together we are doing kingdom work and looking for the day we will join together before the King and offer our praises too Him.