The normal does the unusual

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

So I finished the first book of the summer, "Big God".
If you graciously follow this blod, you've heard many times I quoted from this book or the author Britt Merrick.

In the book, I studied Hebrew 11 aka "The Hall of Faith".
I saw the life of.....
Adel - faith worshipping
Enoch - Faith walking
Noah - Faith Working
Abraham - Faith Willing
Sarah - Faith Waiting
Abraham with Isaac - Faith Well-Tried
Moses - Faith Winning
Rahab - Faith Welcoming
David and the Rest - Faith Warring

One big thing I found throughout this book is that there people are so normal but did great things.
I know Bible records that Noah was drunk, Abraham lied, Moses was afraid. Rahab was prostitute and David committed adultery.
Pastor Britt in epilogue writes
"When you look at the list, you really have no excuses. These are the examples given to us in God's Word. They weren't great people, but they had great faith in a great God. At the critical moments of their lives, they exercised great faith and made the right faith decisions."

What a challenge!!
I always put those people in "the hall of faith", seeing so different from myself.
They were so great, bold and courageous I would think. And I am an ordinary man who might be able to do little for God.
I thought that to be faithful to the "little" was what I need to do.

In the sense, I was wrong.
I can do so much more if I trust and love the Lord more!!
Because they didn't earn faith, faith is a gift from God!!
In Him, I can do any thing!!!

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."

Ephesians 2:8-10

Glory to God

Am I Willing to Go???

Now the LORD had said to Abram:

“Get out of your country,

From your family

And from your father’s house,

To a land that I will show you.

² I will make you a great nation;

I will bless you

And make your name great;

And you shall be a blessing.

³ I will bless those who bless you,

And I will curse him who curses you;

And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

⁴ So Abram departed as the LORD had spoken to him, and Lot went with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.

Genesis 12:1-4

So I have read "Big God" half way through and reached the chapter of "Abraham", who is called Father of Faith.

well, if you have read through Genesis, you know that Abraham had made many mistakes. Yes, but isn't it the theme of this book?? "God can use ordinary people like those are written in Hebrew 11, who made horrible mistakes yet lived the life of faith."

This chapter has made huge impact on my life!!!

It is such a joy that I can share this with you. Again thank your for all the faithful readers!!!

As I have shared before that I have thinking about what to do after graduating college.

God has been so faithful; showing me one by one that I need, step by step that I can take,

And God had had this chapter in store for me!!! Now I have seen!!

When God told Abraham to leave the land of Ur and go to the promised land.

But, Abraham was not told where is Canaan was the land God was taking about after he went!!

So, Why Did he GO????

It is so simple, "He trusted God.".

But how do I go??

I found that as I think about what to do after college, I am trying to collect as much information as possible to see what awaits in the path, rather seeking, praying and listening to God.

Well, it does not mean that I don't pray. But it's about priority, I think.

I read books and website that tells me about certain jobs or how to make good decisions on job hunting 2 hours and pray 30 minutes. this isn't cool.

I should read and be on Internet 30 minutes and pray 2 hours, instead!!!

isn't it Martin Luther that said,

"So many things to do today, I've got to spend the first three hours with the Lord!!"

You may have heard this thousands of times. But let me say it again,

It is All About God, Himself Glorified!!

I love God, my heavenly Father. And He is calling me to come, but I don't sometimes because I think I can't see what will happen when I really go to Him.

That's not a faith.

God has been telling me to go to where He wants me to go.

Yes, it is risky. But as Pastor Britt says

"As Christians we need to be willing to take risks according to that reality - risks that bring glory to God and benefit His kingdom, instead of benefiting us."

in Jeremiah 29:11-13

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

So what will happen when I call on Him, pray to Him, search for Him??

I will find the plan!! But what is the "plan"??

It is Jesus Christ!! God is the goal!!

I love how Pastor Britt says, it is convicting but encouraging as well.

"And it's this worldliness that keeps us from on authentic life of faith. Even though we may never act upon it, the inner desire to do wrong is the root from which we need to sever ourselves. To overcome we must fall more in love with Jesus and to see Him more desirable than anything the world has to offer. I've found that we can't force ourselves to be good - and we're not called to. We are called to be transformed by the Holy Spirit through a loving, meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ."

What is interesting is that as I write this post, God is speaking to me to GO!!!

So my challenge is " Am I Willing ?" like Abraham was willing to go and leave his home.

Hopefully, I can share what I believe God has calling me to do soon.

God bless

ps: if you have time, I recommend to go to this link and watch "Abraham, 'Faith,Willing'".

Faith Tested!!

So as many of you know, I have been reading a book called "Big God".
It is written by Britt Merrick, who is a pastor of Reality Carpinteria which is located in Southern California.
I have also been following him on twitter which is product of awesome internet technology God has given to us :)

well, in his book, he was sharing about how he and his family went through a difficult time with his daughter, Daisy's cancer.
And as I was checking my TL on my twitter, I found out that Daisy has beaten her cancer eventually and is going to go to Hawaii with her family.

It brought me such a joy. Because I was praying for her.

But, last week, I found another TL from Pastor Britt saying Daisy's cancer is back.
I couldn't find words to say. It was so shocking, so much!
Then my mind went through how her family is feeling like; just have finished long battle with cancer and celebrated and enjoyed the victory in Hawaii, but out of no where found out the cancer is back again.

I prayed for Daisy and her family.
Would you? here is the webpage you can check out.

I really think we need to grow in faith everyday. But we don't see how much we have grown often. But it is when the test comes that it is revealed how big our faith is.

I really encourage you to watch this video of Pastor Britt' last message.

I was so amazed how his faith is rooted in the Word and Who God is!

He has proven how "Big our God is" through his life.

here is the link for the video.

I personally really loved his saying "When we are broken most, Jesus is beautiful most."

God bless

Fall in Love

“If you love me, obey my commandments.” 

John 14:15

so on my course of reading through “Big God” written by Britt Merrick. 
I came to the chapter called “Faith Working (Noah)”. It is basically studying through Noah’s life.


Man, I was totally blown away how the lesson we can learn from his life is relevant to me today!!!
I knew how Noah’s life was and teaching I can glean from him, but, as always the Word does, I felt I was reading passage that I had never read before!


So I want to share what God taught me with you.


As we live in dark world, we need to be the light and get ready for Christ’ return.
When I say that I want to love and follow Jesus, I need to make adjustments in my life to be obedient.
For Noah, it took him 120 years of his life to build the ark. He had to make radical  adjustment!!!


I really believe that I have to make radical adjustment for God more. I need to stop surfing internet, being lazy, sleeping in....... the list can go on and on...
When I do that for God, and live for Him, God work through and in my life more.


Noah lived his life that is radically different from everyone else did. But he lived for God!!


Pastor Britt writes....
“Noah’s life was a sermon. Like Noah, we preach the gospel not just with our words but also with our actions. Actions speak louder than words. As Saint Francis of Assisi said ‘Preach the gospel at all times - if necessary, use words.”


but, the question is how do I make such a big adjustments like Noah??


here is the answer, “Fall in love with God more and more”.

“Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart.” 

(Psalm 37:4)

 God is my joy!! I know when I am on His path and spending really good time of intimate relationship with Jesus, I am so satisfied than going to Disney Sea (which I love so much yet), sleeping in and all the other earthly pleasure. 
It is about intimacy with God!!


A.W. Tozer said
“When we catch the true life of worship, then the work that flows out of it will have eternity in it.”


again, Pastor Britt writes
“The truth is that ministry should flow from intimacy.”


Oh, I want to love Jesus more and more than ever I did!!


Let this be my prayer always.

Need me???

Everyone wants to be needed.

Well, I think it so true to human being.
We long to belong to some kind of communities. 
We make friends. 
We want to be around people. 
We want to be good at a certain thing.
.
.
.
.
the list can go on and on


Now, let me ask frankly, "Why??". 
Why do you want those??


I think because so many of us likes or loves to be needed.


My friends at dorm needs me. My sister needs me. 
My friends at church, in a sense, needs me.


But, 
Does God need me???


The answer is "No".


He does not need you. He is omnipotent. He is almighty. He is all powerful. 
He can do whatever He wishes.


This can be depressing to some. This fact can be offending to some.
But we must find great joy in this truth.


It is so freeing!! It is so refreshing!!!
He loves us!!! So although in fact He does not need us, He invites us to His mission!!


Pastor Britt writes,
"Love reaches out and includes. That's what love means. God loves you, so He wants to includes you in His passions and in His mission. That's why He invites you in."

Amen! 
Oh, I find a great motivation to serve His in this fact. 
He loves me so much that even though in face He doesn't need me for His mission, He invites me to it!!


So the question is "Do I want to join the work?"


誰でも、必要とされたいと思っている。


このことは、人間に良く当てはまると思う。
私たちは、何かしらのコミュニティーに属したい。
私たちは、友達を作りたい。
私たちは、人の周りにいたい。
私たちは、何かしらの長所・特技を持ちたい。
・・・・・


これら、全てのことは何を表すか、
一番最初に言った、「必要とされたい」ということではないでしょうか？

私たちは、求められること、必要とされることが好きなのです。

実際に、私もそうです。
寮は私を必要としているし、家族も私を必要としている。
そして、友人も私を必要としているし、教会も、ある意味では、必要としている。


しかし、神はどうだろうか？　神は私を必要としているか？

答えはノーだ。


神は全能で、全てに勝る力をもっておられる。神は、ご自身が望むことを何でもなさることができる。
このことは、ある人には悲しいことかもしれない。また、ある人には不快なことかもしれない。

しかし、この真実からは喜びを引き出すべきではないか。

もしも、神が私を必要としていないなら、なぜ教会があり、なぜ奉仕があるのだろう？
それは、神が私たちを愛しているから。
パスター・ブリットは
「愛は手を差し伸べ、巻き込む。これが愛なんです。神はあなたを愛している。だから、神はご自身の情熱とミッション（使命）にあなたを巻き込みたいと思っている。だから、神は私たちを招いている。」
と書いている。


そうです！！神は私を愛していて、そしてともに働きたいと思ってくださっている。
これほどの、励ましがあるでしょうか？


残る問題は、「私たちがその働きに参加する意思があるかないか」です。

Trust Daily

As I have shared with you on previous post, I have been reading a book called "Big God" by Britt Merrick. Well, I read really slowly because of my poor ability of English reading skill.
Nonetheless, God has been teaching me a lot through this material.

The sub-title for the book is "what happens when we trust Him".
So, I have been taught what is to and how to trust God.

In his book Pastor Britt said,

"I don't know about you, but I rely daily upon the ability to approach the Throne of Grace with boldness so that I may receive mercy and help in the time of need. I rely on the fact that I can go and be in the presence of God to gain new strength, to develop character and to simply enjoy Him. I can't see it, but I count on it. It impacts my daily life."

So, it he said it so well. It is daily decision and action we make to trust God!!

"If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me." Luke 9:23

So, IT IS DAILY Thing!!!
It is not when we have out-reach on weekend. It is not when and after we read Bible.

I was so convicted of my unfaithfulness, not following Him daily.
I was following Him when I want to; on Sundays, during Bible study or when I'm feeling spiritual. (what kind of "spiritual" is that!!)

Regardless of my feeling, it is so sure that God wants me to follow Him and wants me to make every thing I do glorifying to Him.

I just gotta decide what I am living for. For God?? or For MySELF?
I can't live for God partially !!

There are so much more I want to share with you but for now this is how far I can get.
I will post more on this idea later.


以前の投稿で最近「ＢＩＧ　ＧＯＤ」という本を読んでいることは分かち合いました。
まあ、英語なのでそんなに早くは読めてません・・・・・がんばってるけどね。
でも、神はとっても多くのこと、大事なことを教えてくれてます。

この本の副題は「what happens when we trust Him　（神を信頼した時に何が起きるのか）」です。
そして、主はこの神を「信頼することとは」、「どのように信頼するのか」ということを教えてくれている。

パスター・ブリットは
「あなたがどうかは分かりませんが、私は日々、必要な時に憐れみと助けを受けることができるように大胆に恵みの座に行くことにより頼っています。私は、新たな力を得るために、品性を練るために、そしてただ神を楽しむために神の臨在に憩うことができるという事実により頼っています。」
と言いました。

イエスは
「だれでも私についてきたいと思うなら、自分を捨て、日々自分の十字架を負い、そしてわたしについて来なさい。」

イエスに従うということは「日々」のことなんですよね。
私は、「自分の都合のよい時」、「日曜に伝道集会があるとき」、「自分が霊的なってると感じているとき」（大体そんな「霊的」って何なんだよ！）にしか従っていないことが示されました。そして、悔い改めに導かれました。

この従うというのは、日々の決断によるんですよね。
神の願いと言うのは私がする全てのことが神に栄光を帰すこととなることです。
このことは、他の何物にも代えられない満たしを私にもたらしてくれるんです！

もっと、主に従いたい。もっと、神を信頼したいと思いました。

もっと分かち合いたいことはありますが、今回はここまでで。
コメントもらえたら嬉しいです。

Where do you go when.......

最近呼んでいる本の一つに（いくつかの本を併読するのが僕なので）、
「Ｂｉｇ　Ｇｏｄ」という本があります。ブリット・メリックという牧師の書いた本です。

本の全体を通して、私たちが本当に神に信頼したときに何が起こるのかということを書いています。

その本の最初のところに書かれていたことが良かったので皆とシェアします。（がんばって訳します）

「私たちがその知らせ（娘のデイジーがステージ３のがんを患っていること）を聞いたとき、私たちの思いは確かな道を通ってイエスへと向かった。私たちは神のことばに思いを巡らした。すぐに、私たちの心と思いはこれまでに学んだ真理で、神の御性格で満たされた。すぐに、私たちの心と思いは、神がこの世の初めからそうであるように、神がご自身の誠実さをご自身の民に何度も何度も示された話で満たされた。すぐに、私たちの心と思いは、あなたや私のような人が問題に直面した時に自分の小さな信仰を大きな神に置いた聖書の話で満たされた。」

「 僕はどうだろう？本当に追い込まれるまで、神のもとにはなかなかいかないじゃないか！！」と
ここを読んだときに、示された。
「困った時の神頼み」とあるけど、実は私たちはいつも困っていて、常にイエスのところに行くことを試されている。
パスター・ブリットは常にこのことを学んでいたから、そのような状況でも、神のもとへとすぐに生けたのだろう。
本当に、神に頼ることは、日々の生活から学ぶのだろう。わざわざ大きな試練を待つ必要などないのかもしれない。

One of the books I have been reading is called
"Big God" by Britt Merrick, pastor of Reality Carpinteria
Its subtitle is "what happens when we trust Him", so he is telling us what it is like to truly trust Jesus. 
 This passage spoke to me a lot, so I wanted to share this with you guys.
He is writing about how he and his family has been going through ( still now ) difficult time for his daughter' cancer treat ment.
 here he says

"Our mind took a certain rout to Jesus when we first heard the news( that his daughter has stage 3 cancer). We went through the Word of God. Immediately our hearts and our minds were filled with truth we had learned from the Bible, and an understanding of the character of God. Immediately our hearts and our minds were filled with the story of God and how He has proven Himself faithful with His people over and over again, since the beginning of time. Immediately our hearts and minds were filled with the Bible's stories of people just like you and me who faced problems, and placed their little bit of faith in a big God."

I thought "When do I go to God, the Word of God?? Is it when only I face difficult and there is no way to go but to God?"
Pastor Britt was comforted by the Word of God, I think because he had been learning to trust God daily. That is why he was able to go to the Word of God.
I was really convicted by the Spirit.

I think we are daily challenged whether we trust Him or not.

We are always in difficult time; we are in spiritual warfare!!

So, when we face real difficult time like Pastor Britt, how we react is the mere evidence how we are walking daily.

So we, I should be learning to trust Him always. We don't have to wait for the big trail to come.

It is already here!!!