Walking In A Fog

As we walk around and drive around we are bombarded with communication. There are signs everywhere. Every shop has signs covered in words. The streets have words written on them. The traffic signs have words. There are banners and placards everywhere.

But for me, it looks like squiggly lines. I am sure for the average Okinawan it all makes perfect sense, but for me, I am lost. And yet I know that the squiggly lines have meaning, but the meaning is hidden to me. They are in plain sight, but I don't know how to understand them.

The Scriptures tell us that the things of God are hidden and unable to be understood by someone who isn't a Jesus-follower. We read in 1 Corinthians 2:14

"The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit."

It is as though the Spirit acts as a translator for the believer. The Spirit opens the heart and mind of the believer enabling them to accept the things the Spirit wants to send. They are able to see the wisdom in what seems to others foolishness.

To the non-Jesus-follower, many things that happen in life are a mystery. Even when the LORD shows up in tangible ways, there is confusion and an inability to accept a different reality. Their thinking is locked into seeing the world one way, and one way only.

For those of us who have the Spirit, life is full of new and exciting possibilities. We can see His presence in so many places. We see Him working. He has opened our eyes and hearts. It has nothing to do with us other than yielding to His influence.

As I try to decipher the characters of the three Japanese alphabets (you read that correctly, three alphabets) I need a translator desperately. By the way, there are over 2,100 differently characters taken from Chinese used by the Japanese language. They learn all 2,100 as part of their primary school education. And to top that off, they assign different meanings and different pronunciation than the Chinese equivalent. So even if I was fluent in Chinese, it wouldn't help me much in Japan.

So even though I don't know what the thousands of signs are saying, I can be confident of the LORD's direction in our being here. We sense His fingerprints all over our interactions. We are right where the LORD wants us to be.

Please pray that we would be like the many banners along the streets, willing to move at the slightest movement of the wind of the Spirit.

Standing At the Sink

As I was standing at the sink filling ice cube trays with water, I realized I was in Okinawa. I am in Okinawa.

No words can describe the overwhelming sense of God's presence right now. Tears are literally welling up in my eyes. He would grace me with the privilege of serving Him and His people here in Okinawa.

And I get to fill ice cube trays in Okinawa.

God's presence seems to show up in unusual places and times. You see, that is the way God speaks, in extra ordinary ways and in the every day moments. He speaks through ice cube trays, the still small voice, the thundering storm, the rose petal, the prophets words, the death-defying Son of God.

I believe that the Creator of the Universe is still involved in His creation. He didn't step back and become uninvolved. On the contrary, He became more involved.

And I believe He is involved in making ice cubes in Okinawa.

This might sound crazy to some. But to me they are the most beautiful words, spoken to the heart of a very humbled servant.

Blessed are the Feet … Pedicure Moments

We are flying to Okinawa, Japan in just a few short days from today.  

My husband and I have settled into a wonderful, retired rhythm here in the Sunshine State.  We are near our grown children and their families.  Life is good. This post-Army life was our new normal.  

Out of the blue, we were shown a need and then offered an opportunity to serve a congregation in Okinawa, Japan!!  

It happens to be surrounded by American military.  The fit seemed right. God began confirming things for us three months ago when it was in the planning stage.  We were getting a repeated "YES" at every turn.  

But now and then, you just want to make sure you heard God correctly.  Japan, Lord?  You want me to go to Japan?

And just like our Heavenly Father, He brings a lovely retired Air Force spouse into my life.   She sat down beside me for a pedicure!  This lovely lady, with a sweet Southern drawl, and I began the 'normal' conversation thing..."how long have you lived here" ..."where are you from" ... etc. Within a few minutes, she told me they were retired Air Force.

Well, that opened the FLOOD GATE. And what are the odds that she just happened to retire out of Kadena Air Force Base in Okinawa, Japan???!!!!!!!!!!

I'd say it's 100% in this ONE encounter! I looked at her and said, "This is not accidental. This is truly providential that you were sat beside me for a pedicure."  (Did I mention we will be able to see Kadena in the distance, from our temporary residence?!).  

This sweet 84 year old lady named Charlotte and I became bonded immediately. We shared stories about our kids' experiences and living in foreign lands. We swapped stories of hardship and war. We knew each other well, by the time our pedicures were finished.  I was beyond blessed by the end of our conversation.

In Japan, we will be sharing the Good News. We are looking forward to showing the love of Jesus to this congregation and those beyond the walls of the church.  

Romans 10:15 says, "And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, "How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!" (NLT).  I love the King James take on the latter part of the same verse, "How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!"  

God really has blessed our feet as we bring His Good News!  Doubly blessed because I have an awesome pedicure!  God continues to bless my socks off as friends and family have sent their love through support, encouragement and prayers.  Wow, God! You're going to do good and great things!  

Thank you Lord for sending that confirmation through Charlotte today, along with the emotional hug! I am ready for Okinawa, Japan!  Have you had a pedicure lately?  I think your feet will be blessed by it!

But then God....

Okinawa, Japan

It hardly seems possible that less than two months ago we were planning a vacation with some friends in Europe, Italy in particular. But then God....

This really has been the story of our lives. But then God....

But there we were on Feb 5th, minding our own business. Bev had watched and episode of "I'll Have What Phil's Having" earlier in the week. It was an episode about the food in Tokyo, Japan. And unlike her previous desires to avoid Asia in our travels, she had a change of heart. "I think I could enjoy that!" came streaming out of her mouth. I almost dropped dead in my tracks. "What have you done with my wife!"

So then on Thursday 5 Feb I was up early as usual studying and praying. I felt the LORD say to me, "Begin to prepare sermons." That was odd. We have spent the last two years pouring into our children and grandchildren, as well as providing marriage therapy as part of our church counseling center. But we had no openings for sharing the Word. We had no connections that would facilitate an opportunity. We had put this in the LORD's hands. If something came it would have to be Him. We had no way of making anything happen.

And yet, I distinctly felt Him tell me to prepare sermons. So I began to prepare.

Bev and I were heading to MacDill Air Force Base to do some shopping that morning. As we started out on the journey I mentioned to Bev what I had felt the LORD tell me that morning. "Begin to prepare sermons." She responded, "OK." But how else could she respond. If this was from the LORD, it was from the LORD!

To speed this up a bit, but then God....

That evening we received an email from a friend in our Sunday School class. Their son, a missionary in Japan, needed someone to fill their pulpit for three months this Summer so they could return to the States and reconnect with their supporting congregations. The congregation in Japan was primarily American military and their families.

Bev is ready for Asia. I'm preparing sermons. We are free this Summer. We can afford to travel there. We know the needs of the military. But then God....

We both felt a confirmation from the Holy Spirit that HE was opening this door.

So this is where we are, Okinawa bound.

Do you have any "but then God ...." moments in your life? I hope so.

We'll keep you updated as we go along. Watch for ministry updates, food recommendations, and links to sermons. And lots of pictures of "But then God ...." moments.

Could Have Been’s

Mark 1:45

      Have you ever thought about a decision you made and wonder what would have happened if you had made a different choice? It is amazing the way our minds work. We have the ability to run multiple scenarios in our minds and guess what would have happened. Sometimes this leads to regrets, and sometimes we are satisfied with our original decision.

      Jesus healed a man with an incurable skin disease and sternly warned him not to tell anyone about what had happened. He was supposed to go and fulfill the Law’s obligations as a testimony to the religious leaders that the LORD was again active and present here on earth. But he disobeys!

      This man becomes a megaphone, telling everyone about what Jesus did for him. I can’t blame the man. If I were in his shoes, I would probably do the same thing. I would be so excited to have my life back, that I would bubble over with joy and tell everyone I could. This kind of miracle can change a life.

      But miracles are not necessarily game changers. As we read the Scriptures, many people who witnessed Jesus’ miracles did not change. There might have been a temporary shift, but after a little while, they dropped back into their rut. Miracles in themselves don’t necessarily change people. It is our response to those miracles and the choices we continue to make after them that make for permanent change. Altar calls are not enough. Decisions must be lived out daily.

      I wonder what would have happened if this man had obeyed. We read that it changed Jesus’ ministry location significantly. Because of this man’s words the crowds were too great for Jesus to enter the towns. He instead had to minister in unpopulated areas, away from the crowds. But this change in venue didn’t seem to change the size of the crowds. People traveled to be in Jesus’ presence, to hear Him teach, and perhaps even be touched by His miraculous power.

      Does location make that much of a difference? Can God’s will be done everywhere? Or perhaps a more intriguing question, can we mess up God’s will? Can we contain Niagara Falls in a coffee cup? Can we make someone love us? Can we count the grains of sand along the world’s beaches? God’s will is unstoppable. Venue might change. Mouthpiece might change, But His message will go forth. His glory will be known in all the earth.