Tuesday, 15 November 2011

ストレス -相談

ストレス -聖書からの相談
(イエスの相談)

マタイの福音書6:25~34 
25 だから、わたしはあなたがたに言います。自分のいのちのことで、何を食べようか、何を飲もうかと心配したり、また、からだのことで、何を着ようかと心配したりしてはいけません。いのちは食べ物よりたいせつなもの、からだは着物よりたいせつなものではありませんか。
26 空の鳥を見なさい。種蒔きもせず、刈り入れもせず、倉に納めることもしません。けれども、あなたがたの天の父がこれを養っていてくださるのです。あなたがたは、鳥よりも、もっとすぐれたものではありませんか。
27 あなたがたのうちだれが、心配したからといって、自分のいのちを少しでも延ばすことができますか。
28 なぜ着物のことで心配するのですか。野のゆりがどうして育つのか、よくわきまえなさい。働きもせず、紡ぎもしません。
29 しかし、わたしはあなたがたに言います。栄華を窮めたソロモンでさえ、このような花の一つほどにも着飾ってはいませんでした。
30 きょうあっても、あすは炉に投げ込まれる野の草さえ、神はこれほどに装ってくださるのだから、ましてあなたがたに、よくしてくださらないわけがありましょうか。信仰の薄い人たち。
31 そういうわけだから、何を食べるか、何を飲むか、何を着るか、などと言って心配するのはやめなさい。
32 こういうものはみな、異邦人が切に求めているものなのです。しかし、あなたがたの天の父は、それがみなあなたがたに必要であることを知っておられます。
33 だから、神の国とその義とをまず第一に求めなさい。そうすれば、それに加えて、これらのものはすべて与えられます。
34 だから、あすのための心配は無用です。あすのことはあすが心配します。労苦はその日その日に、十分あります。


マタイの福音書11:28~30
28 すべて、疲れた人、重荷を負っている人は、わたしのところに来なさい。わたしがあなたがたを休ませてあげます。
29 わたしは心優しく、へりくだっているから、あなたがたもわたしのくびきを負って、わたしから学びなさい。そうすればたましいに安らぎが来ます。
30 わたしのくびきは負いやすく、わたしの荷は軽いからです。

マタイの福音書10:10
盗人が来るのは、ただ盗んだり、殺したり、滅ぼしたりするだけのためです。わたしが来たのは、羊がいのちを得、またそれを豊かに持つためです。

Wednesday, 13 April 2011

Moving forward - seeing hope and passion and running toward it

You always want to do you best in your life, but at time it seems your just trying to get through the day.
So many people these days are suffering from depression, so many without sight of anything greater. I'm no exception, sometimes I loose all idea of where i'm headed. You see, I think we get bogged down and think of things only attainable at our current "level". Things is, most of the time, there isn't very much attainable at that level anyway.

So what? What now? All I know is that nothing can be done without Jesus. The idea of where we want to be, what we should be doing, what seems impossible... it can be achieved. And things even greater than we thought if we put our hope in God through Christ. 

Here is what I think you can do:
1. Lay down everything: every plan, your ambitions, your possessions, your time - give them to God.
2. Pray to God the Father (knowing he loves to listen because you know Jesus) for hope and vision.
3. Hold on to hope, vision, ambitions that God gives. Even if they seem impossible, if we don't hold on then what can God do.

(Perhaps, to help with this try to find a biblical account that is relative and use it for motivation). Do every little thing you can do prayerfully, but never let go of that huge vision. It will give you the passion to continue the fight. Don't set you sights to low, don't make it easier for God, he doesn't need your help to fulfill what you think is impossible. If something seems to easy, then think, is it from God. God has big plans. Be still and quiet do your best to hear from God, test everything by scripture.

It is not about us doing the impossible, it is about running forward in faith knowing that something is good and worthy to be attained, and seeing God do the impossible. 
Thank Jesus, for all things are possible through him.

==
Again with everything I post, take it with discernment. Let me know what you think.

Monday, 14 February 2011

Freedom vs What is right

These days I look around and it seems clear that the world values "freedom" rather than what is right.
We look at things like abortion and homosexuality and they both have messages similar to: "We want freedom to live our own way". A lot of the time people will try and tell you they are in the right because they're fighting for freedom. It sounds correct because ain't freedom good? Well, that all depends. Freedom is not always good.

Should we tell a person with murderous intentions, "You are free to do what you like". No, because what they want to do it wrong. Had someone revealed their intentions to do someone harm, you would probably call the cops and stop their "freedom" to do what they like. So, while freedom is important, what is right is even more so.

You are free to do whatever you want, but not everything is good for you.
Yet, most people will be offended by this because they don't clearly know where their own morals come from. Well, you should really spend some time thinking this over. Are they really relative, or is it absolute. Where does your wrong and right come from? We need to consider this because all kinds of decisions are being made based on someones idea of what is wrong and right.

Wednesday, 9 February 2011

Japanese worship

So, I've been living in Nagasaki, Japan for the last few months and been really trying to become a part of the Japanese church family here. Anyway, here is 2 videos of a Japanese worship service held for the 26 Martyrs of Japan. These 26 Saints died because they put their faith in Jesus the Christ. They sang hymns to the moment of death. So these 2 videos are songs sang at the anniversary service. Enjoy :)



Tuesday, 8 February 2011

Coming closer

The challenges of coming closer to God...

In the darkness we can't realize we are spotted with imperfection. But, coming closer to the light we realize the extent. What do we do then?

But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! Matt 6:23


We can approach God because of Jesus sacrifice. However, as we get closer we become more aware of our sin, don't we? This is because God is pure, and we realize the great contrast between us, because we are sinners. Now we can go either way at this junction. Either, our realization of sin serves to condemn us, and we strive for perfection by our own works. The other way, is realizing that Jesus has taken our sin, and cleansed us if we trust in him. We can either condemn ourselves, or trust in Jesus the Christ. We can't do both. Realizing God's grace is greater than our sin will allow us to move even closer. Even though we sin, Jesus serves to make us righteous before God. Then, as we again realize the contrast of God's righteousness to our sinfulness, we will be thankful to Jesus who we trust and not burden ourselves in our own condemnation. As we trust him more, our roots will go down into his love. Amen.

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery....
You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope.
Galatians 5:1,4-5

Sunday, 6 February 2011

Living a life to the full -- it ain't so easy

So, I've been a Christian for about 3 years. I'm now 23. I have come sooo far from the day I decided to put my faith in Jesus.
Up to this point I've enjoyed studying the faith, the science, the bible, and how it all works out. I've seen miracles, gone to far countries, all by God's provision.
But now, while reflecting, I realize that most of the time, in "normal life", I've just been trying to get by day to day. This blog is about seeking after the life that Jesus promises:
"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have [it] more abundantly." John 10:10
I'm not saying that I feel i'll be condemned if I don't do it, but life is richer and fuller when one lives with God. The challenge is to overcome fear of what may happen if I put my faith fully in him. Yet, I have seen his goodness when I've trusted him. The goal is to trust him in everyday life. Giving thanks for everything (long ago I read about the "Heavenly man", the way he gave thanks to God changed peoples lives).

At the moment I'm interested in going through the prophets (major/minor). I'm starting in Isaiah. My goal is to understand the end times. With all that is happening in Egypt at the moment (and the middle east in general) it is a great time to understand the times we live in.

And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all [these things] must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
All these [are] the beginning of sorrows.
...
Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer [is] nigh:
So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, [even] at the doors.
Matthew 24: 6-8, 32-33 
What do you think? Any advice?
Soon, I'll post more about Isaiah, and revelations about relationship with God.