Things Learned & Observed

Spiritual Gifts

Spiritual Gifts are a necessity if the Church as a whole is going to become the mature Bride that Jesus is looking for. I don't say they are a requirement, because then we start to make it a law and it's no longer a gift. But, we are completely foolish if we think that clever programming and performance is going to make the Church more like Jesus. Programs can't replace the expression of the Presence of God, and they can never match the effectiveness of spiritual gifts in meeting peoples' needs. This isn't to diminish the effectiveness of just plain love (love is the greatest gift), but spiritual gifts work through love, so there's no disagreement between them.

I haven't wanted some spiritual gifts because I was unwilling to put myself in the line of sight. If I ask for spiritual gifts, it means that I need to be willing to say and do whatever it is that God wants to say and do. I don't have the right to filter it or repackage it. 

Patience

I am not a patient person. I'm willing to wait for a short time, but at some point I decide to go ahead and do what I want to do whether it's well-thought-out or not. If I'm in a position where I'm forced to wait, then I typically find some busy thing to distract myself in the meantime. I'm not a person who waits patiently with a quiet heart. Even in my head, I'm multitasking.

America has a convenience-centered culture. We value convenience over quality. Because of this, we are able reduce slow times during our day (like traveling, cooking and eating, and waiting) to pack our schedules with multiple appointments. We go from thing to thing to thing one after the other because it's possible.

In Japan, though convenience is becoming more valued, they have traditionally valued quality more than convenience. Therefore, in general, things take more time. Japanese people have a reputation for rigorous work ethics and almost maniacal attention to detail and striving toward perfection. Students spend long hours practicing, practicing, practicing, practicing toward whatever goal they have. The rest of the world admires the results. But I found that life in Japan felt slower. It is normal to travel up to 2 hours one-way to work daily. While they spend long hard hours, they are limited to a lesser number of projects. You don't find so many people that are taking swimming lessons, art lessons, piano lessons, play on the basketball team, have a part-time job, are in the knitting club, and take their dog to training classes on the weekend. It just couldn't happen; not when it takes 30 minutes to bike where you need to go, or 15 minutes to walk to the station and then another 30 spent on the train and then another 15 minutest to walk to the actual meeting place. People are physically limited in the number of activities they can cram into one 24-hour period.

I'm not qualifying either culture. Each one has positive and negative aspects. But, what I did learn was to wait. I had to slow down - internally - mentally. I learned to wait - not just with my fingers fidgeting and toe tapping nervously - but to wait quietly and even happily. The physical pain that I experienced also helped instill this in me. I don't know if I can fully describe how, so I'll just leave it at that. I'm not quite sure how this patience will translate back into my life in America, but I hope to retain it in some way. I hope to be a more patient and quiet-hearted person no matter where I'm living.

Flexibility

During my trip, if we received any offer or request to meet with anybody, we took it as being opportunity from God and simply accepted the invitation. We didn't try to evaluate it. We just went in the hope of having opportunity to share the Gospel in some way. We simply assumed that these opportunities were from God and we treated them that way. Sometimes, more than one opportunity would come up and we would have to choose what to do. We would spend time worshipping and praying, and without fail, the way always became clear. I would become settled in my heart: "Let this one go, and go here instead," or "We can handle the difficult travel. We should go to all of these things." Whatever the situation, God always gave direction when we needed it. Otherwise, we took what opportunity was at hand. I see this in the Gospels when Jesus would go to people's houses at their request. He was that flexible, and not worried about "what if God wants me to do something else at that time? What if they're not really open to hearing the Gospel?" What if what if what if. What if we miss simple opportunities by over analyzing with our minds instead of walking in love and receiving people as they are?

Receiving a Perfect Jesus through Imperfect People

I met so many Christians. Each of them has a different perspective on life, God, the Scriptures, prayer, everything! I met a woman who had some really good and helpful things to say about what the Body of Christ should be like. We had a great conversation that I think really helped everyone there. But, when we prayed together I found out that she prays in ways that I think are a little off-balance. I let it go. It didn't really bother me. It's not sin. At least she's praying, and who am I to say what prayer God will or won't accept? He looks at the heart, and I couldn't really evaluate that. So, it didn't bother me. This is a change from how I've been in the past. I was so happy to find it in my heart. I can just receive what people have that I know is from God. And if there's other stuff that I'm unsure of, I can just let it go. I'm not talking about sin - just varying religious practices and beliefs and ways that we learn from others along the way. We all pick up stuff like that. But what I know is from God, I can fully receive. I can embrace my sisters and brothers in fellowship even if there are differences.

Be Given to the Whole Body of Christ

I realized that I have stayed in my own little Christian circle for too long. I have understood and agreed that we are all one Body in Christ, but in reality, I have only hung with my little portion of it. While I might not be able to be as close to everybody as I am to my current friends who I have walked with for 13 years, I want to be whole-heartedly available to the entire Body of Christ and serve them just as faithfully. I don't want to honor denominational divisions. They don't exist in Heaven. I know that, but I want to live it.

Keep It Going!!!

Our Labor Is Not in Vain

I saw that most of the students that we shared fellowship with years ago are continuing to follow Jesus and are growing in faith and purity. I'm inspired to continue reaching out to students, walking with them in the Lord, and seeing them follow Jesus in their own countries if that's what God would have them do.

Humility

Not my own, but God's. God is so humble. The Bible says that He hangs out  with humble people. Do you know why? Because He is so humble! So, He finds fellowship and friendship with humble people.

Toward the end of my trip, I started to feel like the Lord was really happy with me; like He was saying "Well done, good and faithful servant." But, honestly, I felt more like what Jesus talked about when He said "So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.'"

This isn't just some show of feigned humility. It is the truth. The fact that God would reward us or be pleased with us for doing His work - obeying His commands - is a testimony to His profound humility and goodness. Because who of us could fulfill His commands or have strength to obey outside of His grace and provision? So if our good works come from His heart (His commands) and the strength to do them comes from Him, then how is it that we should be rewarded? But God is so good and generous to share, not only His work with us, but also His joy.

I've seen, more than ever, my own weakness and utter need for God. In that place, I more fully received the love of God for me. I don't understand it, but I sure am glad.