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!

 

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!

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!

Thank You, Dad!

 

Ah, Father’s Day!  It is a day to say “Thank you, Dad, for being my dad.  For me it is a day to say, “Thank you, Dad, for choosing to adopt me in all my imperfections.  Thank you for leading me to Jesus!  Thank you for loving me!  Thank you for teaching me to obey you and God.  Thank you for loving me enough to discipline me.  Thank you for challenging me to rise to my potential. Thank you for reading me stories, even now that I am an adult.  Thank you for showing me how to be a faithful man of God!  I really love you, Dad!  I admire you!”

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Joy to the World

 

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  Luke 2:10-11

 

I love the music of Christmas!  It is full of joy and hope.  One of my favorite carols is Joy to the World.  Our Gospel choir is singing a rendition of that carol this year.  It is upbeat and full of joy, and I mean full.  When we sing it I just have to rejoice.  I smile and dance to God’s glory. My heart overflows with joy.  Why?

Well, that song tells that Jesus came. It tells us he is a righteous ruler who loves us.  It calls all nature to sing His praise. It calls us to prepare Him room.  Now is the time to rejoice, but also the time to open your heart to Jesus, who stands at your heart waiting for you to invite Him into your heart!  Do not delay! Do it today!  Then you can rejoice like never before!

Here's To You Dad!

 

Another Father’s Day has come.  People are honoring their fathers and it is really great.  I would like to add my voice.  The other day I was reflecting that God made me to be my dad’s son.  He made me to enter Dad’s life making him a dad.  He fashioned us to cause each of us to grow.  I am so thankful to my dad who understands me.  He has loved me from the start.  He has taught me about God’s love by showing me in practice.  He has given discipline to help me be righteous.  He has accepted my limitations, but never settles for less than I can do.  He expects me to try hard and never stop growing.  I love my dad so much.  I am so glad God chose him for me!

Adoptions

 

I am grateful for friends who are like family.  They show love and encouragement. Sometimes they are so special, you adopt them.  I have several friends who have become adopted sisters, brothers, aunts and uncles.  Just recently I adopted a grandma.  Mine are both already with Jesus, so with grandmas is such short supply, it seemed good to adopt.  The lady I chose knew my          
Grandma Rice, and has known my family for ages.  She is a most marvelous lady.  She loves Jesus and is one of the best encouragers I know. She is an example of how to finish well.  She lives far away from me, but we can communicate through the internet.  God put her in my life and I thank Him for her every day!  I love you Grandma Weaver!  I am proud to call you grandma!

Cherry Blossoms

 

This is the time of year we see cherry blossoms in Japan.  Japan is famous for its cherry blossoms.  People like to eat a meal under the cherry blossoms.  This spring has been very rainy.  The rain seemed to come as soon as the cherry blossoms started.  Rain and cold weather make it uncomfortable to sit under the blossoms and do anything.  The other day, Mom and I went for our morning walk at our local park.  We were the only ones there. As we walked, we saw cherry trees in full bloom.  Delicate light pink blooms covered the trees.  Then we came upon a patch of beautiful daffodils all in full yellow radiance.  We circled the park four times for our own personal, private viewing of God’s splendor.  It was so uplifting.  I am reminded of Creator God who fashioned His creation with precision, and skill, and detail.  Why did He do that?  To declare His glory.  He also made me to declare His glory.  Lord, help me show forth Your glory so my world can know You!

Walking with God!

 

I have been walking each morning before breakfast with my mom.  We go to a local park and fast-walk around it several times.  It is winter, so it is cold.  But we are enjoying looking at the early morning sky.  Last week the sunrise was stunning!  I had to stop and drink it in.  Colors merging into other colors.  Everything changing in the blink of an eye!  Oh, the glory!  It was like a movie, but better.  It moved us both!  We walked praising God as we went. 

We are so often amazed by what God prepares for us on those walks.  But we have to open our eyes and hearts to see it!  Sometimes we are tired, or grumpy and just do not see the beauty God has prepared for us.  I need to be ready every day for what God prepares for me all day long!

King of kings; Lord of lords

 

They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.  Revelation 17:14

 

 In my daily Bible reading I read about the King of kings and Lord of lords.  He is the supreme leader.  He is in control of it all.  There is nothing out of His control.  Well, this King of kings and Lord of lords, I know Him.  He knows my name.  He loves me enough to leave all His comfort and glory so one day I can enjoy that glory with Him.  He experienced birth, suffering, painful death so I could share in His eternal glory.  So I could live in His kingdom.  What a great King!  If you acknowledge Him as your King of kings and Lord of lords, He will do the same for you.  His name is Jesus, and we are celebrating His birthday at Christmas.  Why not join in and call Him King of kings and Lord of lords?  He would love that!

Just Like Any Other Day

 

Matthew 1:21

"She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."

Advent makes us think of the celebration that Jesus was born!  A wonderful birth.  But actually, at the time few saw it as anything remarkable.  The world did not stop and stand in awe.  Many did not know or care that a world changing event had just occurred.  The vast majority just plodded along in the routine of life.  The suffering and joys had not changed.  Israel waited for the coming Messiah, but most saw it as far in the distance.  The world in general went on with life as usual.

So it is with many of us today.  We see it as an event in the distant past.  It is a time for merchants to make money, and people to spend money.  The significance of Christmas is lost in the holiday bustle. 

I want to remember what happened that night in the stable.  I want to rejoice at the unfolding of God’s plan through the ages to arrange for my salvation.  I want to remember.  Won’t you join me in pondering that significance?  If it has no meaning for you, now is the time to find that meaning and internalize it.  Come on!  Think on the significance of Jesus’s birth.  Let it change your life!

Set the Tone of Your Heart

 

Music is such a big part of Christmas at our house.  Christmas music plays all day.  See, we all love music.  This year we were able to attend by livestream the advent concert at Wheaton college.  We have done this in other years but we would watch and work.  This year we took time from a busy day and sat down and attended start to finish.  The theme was “Let the Stable Still Astonish.”  There were no breaks for applause, just a smooth seamless flow of music pointing to Jesus.  We were led in reflection, joy, soul searching, and praise.  It led to being astonished at what God did for us.  Different genres of music and art melded together to lead us to a final declaration of praise in the “Hallelujah Chorus”.  It set us up for worship this advent.  Is your heart set to worship this advent?  As I reflect on what God did for me, I must worship Him.  I challenge you to sit down and listen to an advent concert, or read an advent reading.  Turn off the outside world and reflect on what happened at advent so long ago.  Then go back and worshipping, join the world around you!

God is in Control!

 

I have Japanese pastor friend I have known almost my whole life.  When I was a little kid he and his wife worked in a church plant with my parents.  They became family.  Eventually they moved away, and yet we have maintained a close, family like relationship.  About two months ago we got word that his heart had stopped.  His wife did CPR and he was transported to the hospital, where many procedures were done.  The outlook was bad.  He was in a drug induced coma to reduce stress, but all word was the doctors were not hopeful.  His heart had been stopped for one hour and twenty minutes. 

Our family prayed as did many Christians here in Japan.  I remember my mom praying that he would be healed and the doctors would know the Lord had done it.  He had a heart attack and so many scenarios were possible.  Would he have cognitive ability?  Would he always be an invalid?  Yet we prayed.  He came off the ventilator and knew his wife.  He was talking.  God in His mercy healed him.  He is still weak, but his brain was protected.  I saw a picture on Facebook of him preaching on Sunday.  God healed him.  The doctors are saying it is aa miracle.  I imagine he filled them in on who did this miracle.  We rejoice at what God has done!

Uncle Sasaki, I praise God He has spared you, and I am still praying for you every day.

My Brother

 

I always wanted a brother.  I thought a big brother would be nice, but since I am the oldest child that seemed impossible.  God gave me a beautiful, exquisite, baby sister, but no brother.  I was thrilled to receive my sister, and content to realize this was what God had for me – His best.  

Then about eleven years ago God reminded me nothing is impossible with Him.  He gave me a big brother.  My sister married him.  He became my big brother as he is a year older.  I love him so much.  He knows me and loves me.  He makes me work hard and reach to improve.  He is a friend and family all in one.

My big brother is a doctor and one busy man.  He is a gastroenterologist and might take a look in your stomach with his camera. (Fortunately, he has not looked in mine!)  That kept him busy enough, but when COVID hit, he stepped in and began working with COVID　patients at his hospital.  Not a job most doctors wanted, but he did it, and of course he did it very well. 

Recently, I saw a picture of him beside a helicopter as he flew along to care for a patient in transit.  He looked so handsome and smart.  In case you did not know, I am extremely proud of this magnificent man I get to call brother!  He is a gift from God!

People of the Advent: Jesus

 

Philippians 2:8(ESV)

⁸ And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

 

There is another person in the advent story.  It is Jesus.  He did not hang on to His rights, but emptied himself and became human.  He left all the glory and status of heaven to become a human being.  He did not become a wealthy human.  He was born into an obscure family of meager means.   He was willing to come as a baby and endure all the humiliation of being a baby.  He had earthly parents to obey and help.  He most likely learned his father Joseph’s trade of carpentry.  People may have bought items he made in that trade.  Handmade by the son of God!  He did that because He loved His Father, God Almighty.  He did it because He was obedient to His heavenly Father.  It was an act of love.  He did it knowing He would have to die in excruciating pain of both body and soul.  He knew His God nature that abhors sin would take the sins of the world upon Himself.  He did that in obedience to His Father.   It was in love for the world.  It was love for you and me.  So sing praises to Jesus our Savior.  He is at the center of the Advent!

People of the Advent: Elizabeth

 

Luke 1:6(ESV)

⁶ And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord.

 Luke 1:5-24

Ah, Elizabeth.  She is said to be a righteous woman. It says she kept God’s statutes.  Wow!  She must have been amazing!  Yet she was barren.  She longed to be a mother, but she had no children.  That apparently carried a stigma in her culture.  She may have felt she was a failure.  She felt she did not quite measure up.  Yet God was preparing her to have a very special child.  God was in charge of the timing.  See, He had a big plan!  She was part of the big plan! 

 

She conceived and was so glad.  The stigma was abolished.  Somehow she now measured up in the eyes of society.

 

She was righteous and God rewarded that.  She understood Mary’s situation. When Mary came to her house, she rejoiced, even though others looked askance at Mary.  Elizabeth continued to learn God’s ways in her old age.  She obeyed and stood up to well-meaning friends who rejected the name John.  She obeyed, no matter what.  What a lady! 

 

I want to be righteous and obey no matter what!

Looking forward

 

Romans 5:8 (ESV)

⁸ but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

 

Do you look forward to Christmas?  I sure do! I love the family gatherings.  I love the decorations that make our house sparkle.  I love giving presents and receiving them.  But I am reflecting today on why we need Christmas in the first place.

 

We need Christmas because we are totally sinful.  There is nothing good in me or you.  We are riddled with sin.  We are born into sin.  We have a sin nature.  Holy God cannot abide sin, but He loves us.  Do you get it?  While we were dead in our sin, Christ came and died for us to give us life.  And not just any life!  It is life abundant.  We celebrate Christmas because it is the birth of the promise of redemption.  It celebrates the “fullness of time” when the plan became reality.  God loved.  Jesus came as a human baby.  Jesus lived a sinless life.  Jesus died for our sins, not His own.  And we get eternal life.  This is why I look forward to Christmas, and celebrate it.  It is God loving me and providing for my redemption which I am powerless to do.  So celebrate it now!

Man in Sync with God

 

Genesis 1:26-30 (ESV)

²⁶ Then God said, “Let us make man^[a] in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

²⁷ So God created man in his own image,
    in the image of God he created him;
    male and female he created them.

²⁸ And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” ²⁹ And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. ³⁰ And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so.

 

God made man in His own image.  He gave man intellect and responsibility.  We were mandated with caring for creation which in turn would provide us with food.  We were told to multiply and populate the earth.  God made us, gave us work and food and it was good.  The whole world was perfect in all respects.  Man was in sync with God.  That is how it should be.  That was God’s image of life on this world. In fact if life had stayed like this Jesus would not have needed to come.  But it all went crazy, and sin bounded into the world with destruction spewing everywhere.  It did not have to happen that way.  Man was not content with the world God gave him.  He wanted more, but ended up with less. How do you want more than God has given?  Are you willing to surrender to God’s perfect plan?  Why not try it?

 

 

Is Fall Coming?

 

Today fall is teasing us.  It has made a sneak appearance, bringing along cool nights, rain, and cooler days.  I am thinking a sweater may need to come out of hiding.  But I know this is just a little preview.  In a few days hot weather will return, making me long for fall. This is just a tease.  You see, I love fall.  The colors, the cool refreshing air, the lead up to Christmas.  This summer seemed long, and hot.  I find sleeping hard in this time.  I find my energy low and my mood is grumpy at best.  Little things irritate me.

Well, God made the seasons, every one of them.  Even hot, humid summer with mosquitoes, spiders, and such. The challenge is to maintain my heart of gratitude no matter what the physical circumstance.  I need to focus on Jesus who is the same all the time.  I need to go to the Rock!  

 

 

Thanks!

 

This week a young friend of mine had a birthday.  He turned three! He and I were both adopted into missionary families so we could find Jesus.  I sent him a greeting online. I admonished him to love Jesus with all he has.  I was completely surprised to get video reply.  There was his cute face and his shy reply, “thanks Jeffrey.”  I watched that over and over letting the joy it brought flood my heart.  I would have loved to hug him and receive a hug in return, but that was impossible at the time.  I was a bit sad I could not see him in person to give my small greeting.  However, God did something more.  I have looked at that video several times.  Each time it warms my heart.  I am slowly learning to give thanks in everything.  You see, that is what God demands. 

 

When I obey that command my heart is at peace.  God changes me; He shifts my point of view and gives me His best.  So today I watched that video again, and it reminded me to thank God again.  Are you thanking God for everything?  I sure hope you are.