Have you ever wanted to be at two places at one time? Of course you have. We all have. Tonight I am delighted to be here in Japan with my husband. Simultaneously I would also love to be with my daughter at that huge missions conference called Urbana09. I was just at the website (http://www.urbana09.org/tracks.major.global_issues.cfm) and read her name as a presenter of the seminar called "Sign Language Bible Translation." How I would love to be sitting in that room watching her sign what's on her heart.
As I reflected on Urbana09 I thought, "What could be more thrilling than being in a crowd of 16,000 people talking about missions?" The answer to my question came very quickly..."Actually doing it."
This December has been rich in things that matter. Y. has been doing Bible studies with me now for several years. She shared with her mother what she learned and her mother accepted Christ. A few weeks ago Y.'s mother was praying that her husband would be interested in attending church. The next morning at breakfast he announced he would like to go to church with her. He hasn't been to church in 50 years!
Another friend came for dinner last night. Her husband died just over a year ago leaving her to raise her two kids alone. She embroidered a beautiful cloth for us with the word "Emmanuel" in gold thread saying, "God has been with us."
Tuesday as Russ was having his therapy, I was chatting with his therapist. Mr. E. mentioned how loving Russ is to me. I said it was because Russ loves me according to the Bible's definition of love found in I Corinthians 13:4-7. I happened to be sitting next to a Japanese Bible so read the verses to him. He was so touched that he gladly accepted our gift of a New Testament and went home saying he wanted to memorize those verses as Russ had.
We are enjoying listening to the main sessions of Urbana09 on the internet. The theme is about Jesus coming to earth to live as a man and the opportunities we have to move into communities and live out Christ before those around us. Russ and I are such ordinary people, yet God has asked us to come to Japan and then He asked us to stay even when circumstances seemed less than ideal. We'll never be a Hudson Taylor or a Gladys Aylward. But we can be who we are. I'm looking forward to what God will do in 2010!
Flossie
www.urbana09.org
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
The Little Things
Sometimes we think we have to do big things to really count for something. I think God cares that we respond to His quiet promptings about little things too. At least I know for me, it's easier to obey God in bigger things when I practice with His little requests.
Last Sunday I started to leave church, but felt led to go back and give my young Ugandan friend a hug. She wrote me an email that evening saying she was lonely and prayed that God would send someone to hug her that day.
Last Tuesday at the last minute I lent a book to a young man because he had forgotten his reading material. I only had a minute to choose a book so prayed and grabbed the book entitled Sundays with Scottie. Later when I asked if the book had appealed to him he clutched the book to his bosom and told how it touched him deeply and could he please borrow it longer.
With no kids coming home this Christmas and no big events in our home planned this month, I was tempted not to bother with Christmas decorations this year. My sister-in-law encouraged me to put them up for Jesus and reminded me of the therapists and others that come to our home. I'm so glad I put them up. My various little Nativity sets have brought me many smiles and provided opportunities to share...opportunities I may have missed if I have been too focused on just the big things.
Merry Christmas!
Flossie
Last Sunday I started to leave church, but felt led to go back and give my young Ugandan friend a hug. She wrote me an email that evening saying she was lonely and prayed that God would send someone to hug her that day.
Last Tuesday at the last minute I lent a book to a young man because he had forgotten his reading material. I only had a minute to choose a book so prayed and grabbed the book entitled Sundays with Scottie. Later when I asked if the book had appealed to him he clutched the book to his bosom and told how it touched him deeply and could he please borrow it longer.
With no kids coming home this Christmas and no big events in our home planned this month, I was tempted not to bother with Christmas decorations this year. My sister-in-law encouraged me to put them up for Jesus and reminded me of the therapists and others that come to our home. I'm so glad I put them up. My various little Nativity sets have brought me many smiles and provided opportunities to share...opportunities I may have missed if I have been too focused on just the big things.
Merry Christmas!
Flossie
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Relaxing Thanksgiving
Have you ever been in charge of hosting a Thanksgiving dinner? Would you call it relaxing? While that isn't my usual adjective to describe the responsibility, it truly reflected Thanksgiving this year.
It all started when I began asking guests to join us for the special day. It got to be very funny. While a few people accepted our invitation, I invited 20 people who declined since they had other plans. The thought that came to my mind was,"God must not want me to work too hard for the meal."
I carefully ordered a frozen turkey ahead of time since they are not readily available here in Japan. Then a whole cooked turkey became available so that I didn't even have to bake the one I bought. Again I thought, "God must not want me to work too hard this Thanksgiving."
Thanksgiving morning it all became clear. Our neighbor Jennifer is a young teacher at Christian Academy and quite new to Japan. Thursday morning before I began dinner preparations, I received a phonecall saying Jen injured her foot. Since I speak Japanese and have a car, I took her to the hospital where we learned she has a bone fracture. We arrived home at 1:15 and my guests arrived at 2:00. Fortunately I had made the pies the night before. However, I had 45 minutes to pull together the rest of the dinner.
God has been speaking to me about "having a Mary heart in a Martha world." Somehow the impossibility of pulling off a whole feast together that quickly took away my fretfulness. We ended up with seven people at our table and they all made their helpful contributions so I really didn't have that much to do. The meal came together easily and we had great fellowship. My brother Tim even did the dishes.
Russ had thoughtfully picked out verses for us to read as we shared blessings of the past year. I thank God for a relaxing Thanksgiving.
Flossie
It all started when I began asking guests to join us for the special day. It got to be very funny. While a few people accepted our invitation, I invited 20 people who declined since they had other plans. The thought that came to my mind was,"God must not want me to work too hard for the meal."
I carefully ordered a frozen turkey ahead of time since they are not readily available here in Japan. Then a whole cooked turkey became available so that I didn't even have to bake the one I bought. Again I thought, "God must not want me to work too hard this Thanksgiving."
Thanksgiving morning it all became clear. Our neighbor Jennifer is a young teacher at Christian Academy and quite new to Japan. Thursday morning before I began dinner preparations, I received a phonecall saying Jen injured her foot. Since I speak Japanese and have a car, I took her to the hospital where we learned she has a bone fracture. We arrived home at 1:15 and my guests arrived at 2:00. Fortunately I had made the pies the night before. However, I had 45 minutes to pull together the rest of the dinner.
God has been speaking to me about "having a Mary heart in a Martha world." Somehow the impossibility of pulling off a whole feast together that quickly took away my fretfulness. We ended up with seven people at our table and they all made their helpful contributions so I really didn't have that much to do. The meal came together easily and we had great fellowship. My brother Tim even did the dishes.
Russ had thoughtfully picked out verses for us to read as we shared blessings of the past year. I thank God for a relaxing Thanksgiving.
Flossie
Monday, November 23, 2009
Better than just saying "no"
During fall break I took aside a day (when Russ was at the care center) to be alone with God and review my life. It had gotten out of control with busyness being the great robber of spiritual vitality. One of the things I determined was that I should not accept more than one extra speaking engagement per month. Today I was asked to give the opening prayer in Japanese at our school outreach Christmas concert.
Part of me thought that one little prayer hardly constituted a speaking engagement, but it would require attending the concert twice–not something I planned to do. I could have easily have said, "Yes," but didn't. Yesterday I was reading from "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World." (I have been greatly helped by that study!) The author says that just because we are able to do something doesn't constitute a call from God to do it. When we decline a request she suggested praying for the person God has chosen for that task. So that's what I've done. I've prayed that God would lead the planners to just the person God has in mind to give the opening prayer and that it will be a great blessing to all who listen, including God Himself.
I didn't just say "no" (though that in itself would have been a victory for someone like me who is so prone to over-extending myself.) I was reminded to pray for a specific part of this outreach, the opening prayer.
As we enter that time of year where almost everyone gets over-extended, I hope you'll find your prayer life enriched even when you have to say, "No."
Flossie
Part of me thought that one little prayer hardly constituted a speaking engagement, but it would require attending the concert twice–not something I planned to do. I could have easily have said, "Yes," but didn't. Yesterday I was reading from "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World." (I have been greatly helped by that study!) The author says that just because we are able to do something doesn't constitute a call from God to do it. When we decline a request she suggested praying for the person God has chosen for that task. So that's what I've done. I've prayed that God would lead the planners to just the person God has in mind to give the opening prayer and that it will be a great blessing to all who listen, including God Himself.
I didn't just say "no" (though that in itself would have been a victory for someone like me who is so prone to over-extending myself.) I was reminded to pray for a specific part of this outreach, the opening prayer.
As we enter that time of year where almost everyone gets over-extended, I hope you'll find your prayer life enriched even when you have to say, "No."
Flossie
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
A Taste of Quiet
For the last two months our household has been a buzz of activity. Now we're experiencing a taste of quiet. Saturday Rachel went back home to Oregon after seven weeks with us. Monday my father returned to Indiana. This coming Thursday Christie plans to fly to Colorado. Right now Christie is getting in a quick visit to Karuizawa, her birthplace, just before leaving Japan. That leaves just Russ and me here at home tonight.
It's not totally quiet. Russ is typing on the other computer one key at a time with plenty of breathing time between pecks. His persistence amazes me. I so admire that guy.
This taste of quiet...I can't say it's my favorite flavor of life, but it's a good one. Russ and I will miss Rachel's and Dad's happy chatter and Christie's flying fingers. On the other hand, we are grateful that we live in a day that we can still communicate easily with loved ones many miles away.
As we prepare for Thanksgiving, it's easy to think of many ways we've been blessed. I've known fatigue, discouragement, and other disagreeable states the last few weeks, but God has been faithful and my joy has returned. With the sad thought of Christie leaving soon, I'm depending on God to help my mother's heart let her go and simultaneously keep her close in my heart.
God is good.
Flossie
It's not totally quiet. Russ is typing on the other computer one key at a time with plenty of breathing time between pecks. His persistence amazes me. I so admire that guy.
This taste of quiet...I can't say it's my favorite flavor of life, but it's a good one. Russ and I will miss Rachel's and Dad's happy chatter and Christie's flying fingers. On the other hand, we are grateful that we live in a day that we can still communicate easily with loved ones many miles away.
As we prepare for Thanksgiving, it's easy to think of many ways we've been blessed. I've known fatigue, discouragement, and other disagreeable states the last few weeks, but God has been faithful and my joy has returned. With the sad thought of Christie leaving soon, I'm depending on God to help my mother's heart let her go and simultaneously keep her close in my heart.
God is good.
Flossie
Sunday, November 8, 2009
God's Gracious Provision
Overwhelmed. Exhausted. Elated. These all describe my life the last few months. I'm sorry about the long silence. I just haven't have the energy to write.
I won't list all the activities of recent weeks. It is ironic that just after I finished a Bible study on worry and spending time with Jesus, I turned right around and did the opposite. I worried when I should have taken my concerns to God. It's not that I didn't pray. I just didn't transfer the weight of my burdens to God's outstretched arms. I left little time in my schedule for quiet reflection and rest, replacing every free moment with activity. These are not good strategies.
Nevertheless, God was and is merciful. Zech. 4:6 kept running through my mind, "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord Almighty." I ran out of might and power and found His Spirit ready to give me strength again.
In the midst of this difficult time God gave us wonderful gifts. We have enjoyed having Christie home. Her colorful personality enriches our lives. My 85-year-old father has been amazing traipsing around Tokyo as if he were much younger. He never ceases to brighten our days. Rachel, our 19-year-old house guest is always ready to lend a hand and share what God is teaching her.
I must tell you an absolutely amazing thing that God did. We had a very large financial emergency come up. Russ and I strongly believed we needed to proceed without hesitation in spite of the large price tag even though it meant using funds carefully set aside for our retirement. God spoke to the heart of a 70-year-old Japanese lady who has never met us (and who doesn't have a lot of money to spare) to give us 300,000 yen as a personal gift. This is equivalent to about $3300 (depending on the exchange rate). She heard very briefly about us from another missionary who mentioned us in passing. She followed God's prompting and gave them the money to give to us. I am still stunned. It covers the need. Please take a moment to ask God to bless that generous woman and to thank God with us for His loving care for us.
We are blessed to be a blessing,
Flossie
I won't list all the activities of recent weeks. It is ironic that just after I finished a Bible study on worry and spending time with Jesus, I turned right around and did the opposite. I worried when I should have taken my concerns to God. It's not that I didn't pray. I just didn't transfer the weight of my burdens to God's outstretched arms. I left little time in my schedule for quiet reflection and rest, replacing every free moment with activity. These are not good strategies.
Nevertheless, God was and is merciful. Zech. 4:6 kept running through my mind, "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord Almighty." I ran out of might and power and found His Spirit ready to give me strength again.
In the midst of this difficult time God gave us wonderful gifts. We have enjoyed having Christie home. Her colorful personality enriches our lives. My 85-year-old father has been amazing traipsing around Tokyo as if he were much younger. He never ceases to brighten our days. Rachel, our 19-year-old house guest is always ready to lend a hand and share what God is teaching her.
I must tell you an absolutely amazing thing that God did. We had a very large financial emergency come up. Russ and I strongly believed we needed to proceed without hesitation in spite of the large price tag even though it meant using funds carefully set aside for our retirement. God spoke to the heart of a 70-year-old Japanese lady who has never met us (and who doesn't have a lot of money to spare) to give us 300,000 yen as a personal gift. This is equivalent to about $3300 (depending on the exchange rate). She heard very briefly about us from another missionary who mentioned us in passing. She followed God's prompting and gave them the money to give to us. I am still stunned. It covers the need. Please take a moment to ask God to bless that generous woman and to thank God with us for His loving care for us.
We are blessed to be a blessing,
Flossie
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Family visiting
It's been great to have our daughter Christie with us for two months and my father visiting Japan for a month.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Day of Prayer and Vision
Today was a special day. TEAM asks us to set aside a day each year to spend extended time alone with God in worship, prayer, and listening to God directing us to come up with a growth plan. It sounds like a great idea and I did it before Russ' stroke, but I've wondered how I could do that now. I'm always either with Russ staying attentive to his needs or at school working. I rarely have uninterrupted time to myself. I feel comfortable leaving Russ for a few hours on his own, but not all day.
Yesterday afternoon I suddenly realized that I had an opportunity today for my Day of Prayer and Vision. We have Fall Break from school today and next Monday. Since Russ goes to the care center every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, that means I had this day free.
It was a very refreshing day. I listened to Scripture songs as I worked on my scrapbook of God's attributes. I enjoyed doing a Bible study using the book Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World. I worked on my life purpose statement and came up with an overarching goal for 2010. (I know I'm a little early, but I need a little time to practice my goals before the year actually arrives. Smile.)
I wrote up my goals for each area of my life (mental, physical, spiritual, social, home, financial, vocational, personal, and ministry). Before you panic and think That's too many goals, let me share with you my overarching goal for 2010. Simplify my life to keep focused on my life purpose.
I jotted down how each subgoal could simplify my life. It was pretty amazing how they all fit together. Since there are still 12 weeks before 2010, I have time to try them out and revise them in case some of them are too idealistic.
One of my goals was to get this blog started. Rachel (a young lady living with us for seven weeks) has been a huge help to me in many ways. She has patiently worked with me a little bit each night to set up this blog. God is using her to help simplify my life...all for the purpose of spending more time getting to know Jesus. Thank you God for Rachel!
Yesterday afternoon I suddenly realized that I had an opportunity today for my Day of Prayer and Vision. We have Fall Break from school today and next Monday. Since Russ goes to the care center every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, that means I had this day free.
It was a very refreshing day. I listened to Scripture songs as I worked on my scrapbook of God's attributes. I enjoyed doing a Bible study using the book Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World. I worked on my life purpose statement and came up with an overarching goal for 2010. (I know I'm a little early, but I need a little time to practice my goals before the year actually arrives. Smile.)
I wrote up my goals for each area of my life (mental, physical, spiritual, social, home, financial, vocational, personal, and ministry). Before you panic and think That's too many goals, let me share with you my overarching goal for 2010. Simplify my life to keep focused on my life purpose.
I jotted down how each subgoal could simplify my life. It was pretty amazing how they all fit together. Since there are still 12 weeks before 2010, I have time to try them out and revise them in case some of them are too idealistic.
One of my goals was to get this blog started. Rachel (a young lady living with us for seven weeks) has been a huge help to me in many ways. She has patiently worked with me a little bit each night to set up this blog. God is using her to help simplify my life...all for the purpose of spending more time getting to know Jesus. Thank you God for Rachel!
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