Do the Next Right Thing

We are delighted to still be serving here in Japan after all these years. There are times It's really exciting–when people are baptized or share what God is doing in their lives. Other times we just do the next right thing. Mission work is not like a business where a person can judge how a business is prospering by looking at a balance sheet. Even counting people who have committed themselves to Christ doesn't give the whole picture. So much of what we do is about listening to the Holy Spirit's prompting and doing or saying that thing.

I'm reminded of Zech. 4:6 (NIRV).
"Your strength will not get my temple rebuilt. Your power will not do it either. Only the power of my Spirit will do it," says the LORD who rules over all.

I'm learning more about depending on God's leading. Last night I got a call from a stranger. Ordinarily I would just hang up on an inappropriate caller, but for some reason God led me to keep talking to him. When I asked if he wanted to talk to my husband, he nervously hung up on me. I really couldn't understand everything he was saying, but it occurred to me that maybe God prompted him to call us so that I could pray for him. What if no one else is praying for him?

I can't see the whole picture of our lives or influence, but I know this–God wants me to do the next right thing.

Because my life is very full with school responsibilities, caring for my husband's needs,  and other ministry needs, I don't often go out with friends. But recently the "next right thing" to do was to go out to tea with friends from church. We had a delightful time at Rose Town Tea Garden. I was introduced to Angel Falls Mist tea and discovered that I love it.