3.27.06 - haru (spring)
weather has finally started warming up as spring is finally rolling in. there seems to be 2 things that people here in japan are really excited about right now. first is japan winning the world baseball classic championship. yata ne nippon! the other thing everyone is excited about is the blooming of the sakura (cherry blossom) trees. it's probably hard to understand how big of a deal this is unless you experience it. it's not just the blooming, but also the events/festivals that go along with it. the blooming of the sakura is the hallmark characteristic of spring in japan. the parks full of pink/white trees, with their petals being blown around almost as if it's snowing flowers. it is an amazing sight, and i'm really looking forward to the sakura being in full bloom soon.
went to ueno park and zoo this past saturday with my adventure buddy, helen. got to see my favorites... a real live panda and emperor penguins (i was hoping to see some that are 4ft tall, but unfortunately none were even close). the penguin wasn't the only emperor we saw though... the emperor and empress of japan drove right by us in the park! ling ling the panda spend a good minute itching his butt using a tree stump... it was hilarious... ahhh, the life of a panda!
good weather also means time for more adventures! the sakuras are about to hit full bloom, so keep a lookout for new photos. --------------------
king of majesty
marty sampson
you know that, i love you,
you know that, i want to know you so much more,
more than i have before these words are, from my heart,
these words are, not made up,
i will live for you, i am devoted to you,
king of majesty
i have one desire
just to be with you my lord,
just to be with you my lord,
jesus you are the saviour of my soul
and forever and ever i'll give my praises to you,
jesus you are the saviour of my soul
and forever and ever i'll give my praises to you,
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3.22.06 - more visitors
rob and lance made it out here this past weekend. it's always nice to be able to show my life out here with people from home. it's such an encouragement to have people share in my experiences.
i've been playing guitar for the worship team at hew hope, as well as helping out with the youth and college ministries. my first 6 months here were spent really reflecting and examining why God brought me here. i set out to try new things and allow God to use me in any way possible. it has been both challenging and stretching to say the least. my first instinct would have been to surround myself with the things that are familiar... but i knew that's not what God wanted. He knew what i need was to be uncomfortable, so i could rely soley on Him. about a month ago, i felt like God was telling me that i was ready to start serving again, but not in the same way that i have been. the condition was, that i use what i've learned the past 6 months to create a vision, prioritize, and remain focused on the things God is teaching me. i've started getting involved in a few familiar ministries, but it's definitely in a different capacity than i'm used to. i now see that God was definitely preparing me to make an impact, using a lot of the gifts i have been using, but in completely different capacities.
i've added a bunch of galleries to the right. as you can see, i've been quite busy! --------------------
i’m not ashamed
tommy walker
jesus, you’re my master and my king
jesus, you’re my lord my everything
jesus, it’s your blood that made me clean
hallelujah, hallelujah
i’m not ashamed of your love
i’m not ashamed of your grace
i’m not ashamed of the cross
i’m not ashamed of your worth
from the highest mountain top
to the lowest valley low
i’ll shout your name until the
whole earth knows
what can i do but dance and shout?
i have to let these praises out
i once was lost and oh so bound
by your grace i have been found
and if the world can scream and shout
for earthly temporary things
i can give my loudest
praise to thee
hal – le – lu – jah! hal – le – lu – jah!
hal – le – lu – jah! hal – le – lu – jah!
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3.08.06 - comfort
i was strolling around the streets of shibuya when i snapped this pic. i love the expression on the girl's face, kind of like... a little 'confusion' mixed in with some 'lost' and a sense of 'overwhelmed', but not so much that she can't handle it. i might be reading too much into it, but that's the image i got when i captured this scene. i think that's definitely a feeling i can empathize with. there's so much to see and do, yet sometimes i just want to sit and relax. i'm constantly reminding myself to take a step back and just 'be'. then it hits me... i'm in japan!
physically and emotionally, it's been a pretty up-n-down few weeks since i've gotten back to tokyo. kinda like the weather here. one day it'll be sunny and warm, the next day it'll be cold and raining. what i do know is that God is watching over me, and that in itself brings me comfort and peace.
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my hope is in you
third day
to you, o lord, i lift my soul
in you, o god, i place my trust
do not let me be put to shame
nor let my enemies triumph over me
my hope is you
show me your ways
guide me in truth
in all my days
my hope is you
i am, o lord, filled with your love
you are, o god, my salvation
guard my life and rescue me
my broken spirit shouts
my mended heart cries out...
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3.02.06 - introductions . . .
meet kaori and yuichi, they head up the youth (jr high/high) ministry at new hope. i promised them i'd put their pic up on my site, so here they are. they're really cool, and have a huge heart/passion for teens. it's been such a blessing serving with them, and leading worship for the monthly youth rallys. i'm really looking forward to seeing what God has in store for us.
i'll be joining the frontline ministry this week. they are the main worship team for the regular worship service at new hope. they were in need of guitar, bass, and male vocalists to help lead worship, so i'm excited about gettting involved. i just have to keep reminding myself that despite the things i think i "should be" doing, i need to keep an open mind and allow God to show me what He wants me to do. there's so many talented musicians at church and sometimes i feel like i'm not good enough, or so-and-so would be so much better. but that's not the point... how can i best use my talents/experiences/abilities to glorify God? as long as keep that in mind, i'll remain focused on what's important. i was encouraged when the keyboardist told me that he wanted me to join the team not because of my musical abilities, but because of my heart.
in other news, the morey clan is coming out to visit josh. they come in on saturday evening, so i'm looking forward to seeing them soon. there's gonna be a whole sleuth of visitors for the month of march, so good times and good eats lie ahead! hope everyone is having an awesome week! miss you all!
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