... and then there is KINDNESS

#4 of the Fruit

So far, we have looked at four of the fruit of the Spirit that Paul wrote about in Galatians. We considered the need of being connected to the Vine; that is abiding with Jesus at all times…connected to Him through a living relationship found in Jesus alone. We spoke about the need of Love in our lives. Joy being a main ingredient in the Believer’s life. Then true Peace—that passes all understanding. And last week, we spoke on Patience. Today, the Fruit of Kindness.

What is it like to be kind? What is it like to do a kind act toward someone? What is it like to be on the receiving end of kindness? Do you like being around kind people? What is the M.O. of people who show kindness? (Modus operandi often used in the abbreviated forms M.O. or simply Method) is a Latin phrase, approximately translated as "mode of operation".) I’d pick our dear friend Michi H.

If you could pass on any single advice concerning a life of Kindness, what would you say or teach?

When you think of a ‘Kind Person’ what image do you have? A positive one or negative… In History, what names do you associate with being a Kind Person? Is that a quality that is sought after today in the World of business? The arts? In Politics? …In Faith?

Would you call Jesus a kind person? Did He show kindness to people or was He not kind at all?
Let’s look at the Word of God—for this is our source of all knowledge of Him and His ways—and see the following from:

Isa 63:7. I will tell of the kindnesses of the LORD, the deeds for which He is to be praised, according to all the LORD has done for us— yes, the many good things He has done for the House of Israel, according to His compassion and many kindnesses.

How has God shown you kindness this week? What is His M.O.?

Here is a place where such things can be brought out into the open. Isaiah wrote that he would take this to the streets…so all could hear for God had done MANY GOOD THINGS.

We are told to be not only connected to the Lord but also to do what He did.

In John 14:12.: I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in Me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

Jesus told us of what the Father told Him.

John 15:15. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from My Father I have made known to you.

One of the things He told us is to tell others of His Kindness. Simple, yes? Not made up stories, not deep theological discourses, not 50 things God wants you to know---just the things He has done for you.

So what has He done for you?
•Directs our hearts.
•Gives us compassion.
•Moves us to action.
•Forgives our bitter heart.
•Restores broken relationships.

All these things are evidence of His Kindness toward us! These are the ‘things’ He wants us to tell. Tell our story.

Rom 11:22. Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in His kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.

His kindness toward us is intense! Think of where we once walked, the life we once lived—
•far from Him,
•distant from the Grace of God,
•self-centered life

Look at the list in Galatians of the 15 negative ways of life we all once walked in—day in and day out! 15 acts of a spiritually defiant, rebellious life VS 9 spiritually, meek, gentle, humble functioning ways of living life in it’s fullness.

Luke 7:46-48 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little." Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."

The Lord showed sincere kindness to the lady, while the others wanted to stone her. He saw in her a heart that was broken. A life that was worth saving. He extended His Heart of Kindness toward her. In His kindness He did not condemn her, but set her free.

Later, Peter takes these fruit and gives them a growing standard…movement from just something small, for us to grow up into the person God designed us to be. Add to your Faith.

There in the life and growing. Please read:

2 Peter 1:5-9. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

What kind of kindness does He show us?

Ps 18: 30. As for God, His way is perfect; the Word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him.

He covers us as we connect with Him.

His kindness is not like the kindness of men…not self-seeking, boastful, arrogant, but the kind of kindness that shows us His Character.

Listen to what Jeremiah says!

Jeremiah 9:24. “but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD.

To find kindness in our life in increasing measure is found in the knowing of the God of all kindness.

“…that he understands and knows Me…”

Being connected to Him, abiding IN Jesus, one finds this Character of God & His Kindness one of the same.

And we come to the Communion Table today to remember His Kindness to us, in that while we were still sinners, He died for us. How Great a Kindness! Not to turn His back on us!

\Psalm 103/

Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise His Holy Name.
Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all His benefits-
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.
He made known His ways to Moses,
His deeds to the people of Israel:
The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse,
nor will He harbor His anger forever;
He does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is His love for those who fear Him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far has He removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him;
for He knows how we are formed,
He remembers that we are dust.
As for man, his days are like grass,
he flourishes like a flower of the field;
the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.
But from everlasting to everlasting
the LORD's love is with those who fear Him,
and His righteousness with their children's children-
with those who keep His covenant
and remember to obey His precepts.
The LORD has established His throne in heaven,
and His kingdom rules over all.
Praise the LORD, you His angels,
you mighty ones who do His bidding,
who obey His word.
Praise the LORD, all His heavenly hosts,
you His servants who do His will.
Praise the LORD, all His works
everywhere in His dominion.
Praise the LORD, O my soul.

Next week, the Lord has opened the door for us to fellowship with VCF, Vineyard Christian Fellowship, as their worship hall is being fixed up. Those who are in the area, please come BEFORE 10:30! Please do not stay away!

If this post has helped you in any way, we would really like to hear how. Send your questions and or comments to iccsjapan@yahoo.com May His Grace fill you as you look to Him for life.


Thank you.

___________________

Interested in Tithing?

I'd like to share this video with people who aren't on Facebook.

Go to this link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwfMMN71xUw
for the Tithe Rap.

ALSO, Download the Tithe Rap for free until 2/11/09 here: http://tinyurl.com/czwfup

Thanks.
Pastor Stan

Patience. The Fruit you want right now!

I came across a few interesting quotes this week on patience.
“How can a society that exists on instant rice, packaged cake mixes, frozen dinners, and instant cameras teach patience to its young?” ~Paul Sweeney
“Patience is something you admire in the driver behind you and scorn in the one ahead.” ~Mac McCleary
“Still achieving, still pursuing, Learn to labor and to wait.” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

And then in Lamentations 3.25, “The LORD is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him.”

Or, “I am extraordinarily patient, provided I get my own way in the end.” Margaret Thatcher

How many times in the day or week has your patience been tested? What are the hot spots that erupt your impatience? Why even try to have this fruit alive and active in your life? I do hope that by the end of our time this morning, you will find a way to build your patience and allow that and other fruit of the Spirit be as natural as breathing.

Face the facts, you all need to breath. We all need to show patience...mainly because our Lord is patient with us...BIG TIME.

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

And seeing this fourth fruit is tucked into the other more desirable fruit, we need to realize this fruit is important, too.

From 1 Cor 13:4-10 , we define this fruit: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails.

Now, lets try something. Put your name in the blank...not to make us feel strange or defeated, but as a target for your life...

____ is patient, ___ is kind. ___ does not envy, ___ does not boast, ___ is not proud. ___ is not rude, ___ is not self-seeking, ___ is not easily angered, ___ keeps no record of wrongs. ___ does not delight in evil but ____rejoices with the truth. ____ always protects, ____ always trusts, ____ always hopes, ____ always perseveres.
____ never fails.

Why is this important? Because...

Patience effects our relationships.

There is a command for patience in the Bible. It is not one that you can pick. I’ll take love and patience but not faithfulness or goodness.

In James 5:7, we read: “Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains.”

Patience effects our emotions

It comes out in our Stress, we become sick, we act jealous, full of envy.

When you win in cards, running, darts, a lottery, win in love, there is a great reward! There is also a great reward in having patience alive in you.

Hebrews 10:36 (NIV) “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.”

Or from the Amplified Bible “For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance, so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God, and thus receive and carry away [and enjoy to the full] what is promised.”

When we win in this contest of the battle for our will and spirit, our emotions are lifted and we are set free.

John 8:32 “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

The Truth here is that it is promised to us. Enjoy to the full sort of living. There is real freedom in that!

And as we saw from Lamentations 3.25 “The LORD is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him.”

A great reward, indeed!

Patience effects our final ‘run.’

Matthew 25:23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!’”

The complete joy may not be understood now...not yet. There may not be even a hint of joy in what you are going through, but He is faithful. Him, who has called you to follow Him will provide for you a way to stand up and move on with life. Again, it may not look like the dream you once had but in the long run, there will be no more tears, no sadness, no sorrow. It will be His joy in you as you wait...in patience, for Him to bring these things to past.

Six things to look to as this Godly patience is being worked into your impatient lives.

1. Faith: 2 Thess 1:4
2. Wait: Isa 40:31
3. Trust: Isa 25:9
4. Suffering: Romans 5:3-5
5. Obey: 1 Peter 2:18-19
6. Stand firm: James 5:8

To close, I found this quote from maybe a Greek man named Anonymous:

“Patience is waiting. Not passively waiting. That is laziness. But to keep going when the going is hard and slow - that is patience.”

Moving toward the MARK! Toward the Lord. And this is done with the Holy One working His will out in your life as you surrender to Him...to His tender care for you.

AND REMAIN CONNECTED TO THE VINE.

Next week: Communion Sunday. Come with a prepared heart to remember Him.

And remain in Him!

...

Fruit, again... John 15:4-9

Last week, we started looking at the Fruit of the Spirit. I had the open door to CAJ and shared the same thing there last Wed. Interesting time…for me, it was as though I had not said it before. It became fresh to me. I liked the 'stuff' of remaining. It has been a theme of mine for a long time. Friends had shared this truth with me a few months ago and it re-fired my heart again. To remain in Him. Remain in the Vine. Good stuff, really.
先週から御霊の実について学んでいます。先週の水曜日にCAJで同じ話をしましたが、とても新鮮な気持ちになりました。とどまるという響きが好きになりました。どどまるというのは私の長年のテーマでした。この真理を友人が私に話してくれたときわたしの心は再び燃え上がりました。イエス様にとどまるということは本当に素晴らしいことなのです。

During the week, I ran into one of you while in town. That person said she used the paper each day. And each day, the answers were different. Some days, Superior, while other days, needs work. Each day was different because each day WAS different. We need different things each day. (One size does not fit all.)
先週、町で教会の人に会いました。その方は御霊の実の紙を毎日チェックしたそうです。大変よく出来る日もあれば、全然出来ないもあったようです。日々、違うことが起きるので答えが違うのも当然です。

How boring it would be to eat the same meal each mealtime-all year long. Even when it is the most wonderful meal, one could grow tired of the same food-day in and day out. That might be the same with what we need each day. Something different but the same thing would be where it came from. In this case, from the vine. From Jesus. All the time, all from Him.
一年間同じ食事をしたら飽きてしまいます。たとえそれが一番おいしい食事でも毎日同じものを食べ続けたら嫌になるでしょう。私たちの生活もそうだと思います。起きることは違いますが、とどまるところはずっと同じなのです。ぶどうの木であるイエス様にずっととどまり続けましょう。

Let's just review for a moment: The FRUIT of the Spirit is: is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
先週のおさらいをしましょう。御霊の実は愛、喜び、平安、寛容、親切、善意、誠実、柔和、自制です。

The key to remember is that these are evident within our lives as we remain in the Vine. Remain in Him. At all times and at all cost. Total surrender to Him. A branch can bear no fruit by itself. It MUST remain in the vine. OK. That's good.
　覚えておいて欲しいのは私たちがぶどうの木にとどまった結果このような実を結ぶということなのです。イエス様にとどまるのです。いつでもどんな状況でも。イエス様に全てゆだねるのです。枝が自分で実を結ぶことはできません。ぶどうの木にとどまらなければなりません。
よろしいですね？

Now, to return to one of the last things I was talking about because it needs a little more dressing-to make it clearer. Last week, and today, we read that Jesus said from John 15: “As My Father has loved Me, so have I loved you.”
話市を戻す前に最後にもう一つ話させてください。話を明確にするのに説明したいのです。
先週と今日とヨハネ15章からイエス様が言ったことを読みました。
「父がわたしを愛したようにわたしもあなた方を愛しました。」

How much does Jesus love us? He might even love me more than He loves you, do you think? Some do. Because I am a pastor, God loves me more than just a regular person. WRONG. No matter who you are, what you do, what you have done, no matter how much you had sinned, no matter how inadequate you might feel, the way the Father loves the Son is JUST the way He loves you.
イエス様はどのくらい私たちをあいしているのでしょうか？イエス様は皆さんよりも私のことを愛していると思っていませんか？神様は平信徒よりも牧師を愛するのでしょうか？違います！！皆さんが誰であっても、何をしたとしても、どんな罪を犯したとしても、自分はダメだと感じていても、父が御子を愛したように、皆さんも愛されているのです。

How does a human father love his son? I heard a story…
While flying across the US, a man was sitting next to a young man with a laptop. There was a photo on the computer screen, on his Palm Pilot more photos of the child, and more on his computer. Talked about his son the whole flight! To everyone in his section. People were a little weird about it. Some fell asleep while others nodded, but some looked at each photo of this 14 month old with wonder…as they fingered photos of their own child to show off.
では人間がどのように息子を愛するのでしょうか？あるストーリーを聞きました。
彼のコンピュータの画面、電子手帳には写真が映っていました。彼は自分の息子のことを飛行機の中でずっと話をしていました。近くにいた人、全員に話しました。回りの人は彼のことを変だと思っていました。話を聞きながら寝てしまう人もいました。息子の写真を人に見せるのはどうかと思って写真を見ている人もいました。

They heard about ALL this child has done in his last 14 months of life. He speaks, walks, sleeps on demand, and was even kind not to soil his pants at the wrong time. An amazing child… The father said, “I can't wait to get home to see my son.” “I could look at these photos all day long. They never get old to me.”
Got old for the rest of the passengers…
その息子は14ヶ月で彼の周りに座っていた人はその子がしたことを全て聞かされました。
しゃべったこと、歩いたこと、ぐずったり、お漏らしをしたりすることなど。
本当にいい子なんだと父親は言いました。息子に会えるのが待ちどうしいよ！この写真、一日中見ていられる。飽きることなんてないんだ。他の乗客はもう飽き飽きでしたが・・・

This man's son was amazing-according to the man. All that the boy did was covered with wonder. It really did not matter that other children did these things as well.

この男性の息子は彼にとってはとてもいい子でした。本当にそうかは疑問です・・・
他の子だって同じ事をすると思います。

The man next to him said, “You really miss your son, how long has it been since you last saw him?” Most have been weeks if not months! He answered, “Yesterday!” One day away from his son was one day too long.

隣に座っていた男性が聞きました。「もう、どのくらいお子さんに会ってないのですか？何週間もあってないのでしょうね？」「いいえ、一日です。一日でも長く感じるのです。」

As My Father has loved Me, so have I loved you.

Look at the parable of the Prodigal Son-see how the Father longed after him-watching for his return. Loving him, since he once was dead and now is alive! Different from Jennifer's parents: The had a funeral for her after she became a Believer in Jesus! They hated Christ Jesus so much, they declared Jennifer dead to them!
父がわたしを愛したようにわたしもあなたがたを愛しました。
放蕩息子の父親は毎日息子の帰りを待ち望んでいました。死んでいたと思った息子が生きて帰ってきたので彼は大喜びでした。しかし、ジェニファーの両親はそうではありませんでした。
彼女がまだ生きているのに葬儀を行ったのでした。

This is part of the abiding, part of the remaining in the Vine. We are the kid on God's screen-saver! We are the one He is so proud of! Can't wait for us to wake up to spend some conscience time with us. It is not that we are so smart, or so good looking, or even that we are special-except to Him, we are loved! He shows our photos to the angels and they wonder about it all. (Their relationship with Him is different. They did not need saving!)
これはぶどうの木に繋がっていることに関係があります。神さまのコンピュータの画面には私たちの写真があります。私たちのことを自慢げに話しているのです。神様は私たちが朝、目覚め、神さまと時間を過ごすのを心待ちにしているのです。私たちがいい子だから、また可愛いからではありません。私たちは神さまにとって特別な存在なのです。神さまは天使に私たちの写真を見せています。天使はなんで見なくちゃいけないんだろうって不思議に思っているでしょう。天使と神さまとの関係は私たちと神さまとの関係とは違うのです。天使は救われる必要はないのです。

The smallest detail of our lives never grows old to the Father. That is why He waits for us to pray to Him. He loves it when His Children talk to Him. Our prayers are precious to Him. When we speak to Him in faltering words, stammering mumbles, He hears them-not because we do them so well, but that He sees them through the eyes of a Father-who loves us…so well…so deep.
私たちの人生の小さな出来事も神さまは新鮮に覚えていてくださいます。神様は私たちの祈りを聞きたいのです。子供たちの話を聞くのが大好きなのです。私たちの祈りは神さまにとって大切なのです。私たちがもごもごと、どもりながら話しかけても神さまは聞いてくださるのです。神様は私たちを温かい愛の目で見てくださっています。深く深く私たちを愛しているのです。

The story of the Bible is the story of the Creator Father rushing home with His Children…because one day apart is one day too many. As My Father has loved Me…
聖書の話しは父なる神が子どもたちのために急いで家に帰る話しです。一日でも離れていたくないという神様の想いが詰まっています。父がわたしを愛されたように・・・

The most frequent promise in the Bible is not the promise of forgiving our sins. Not the promise of eternal life. The MOST frequently professed promise in the Holy Bible is God saying to us, His Children, “I'm with you. I'll be with you. Don't be afraid, 'cause I'll be with you.”
一番よく出てくる聖書の約束は罪が赦されることではありません。永遠の命を受けることでもありません。一番多く語られている約束は神様が私たちと共にいてくださることです。恐れるな、わたしはあなたと共にいる。

Ps 1; “You are with me.” God was with Adam and Eve, with Enoch, with Noah, Moses, Paul, Mary. When the Son came to earth, He was given the Name Emmanuel. What does that mean? “God with us.” Now, it is your turn for Him to be with…and in.
あなたは私と共におられる。神さまはアダムとエバ、エノク、ノア、モーセ、パウロ、マリアと共におられました。御子がこの世に来られたとき、インマヌエルと呼ばれました。どういう意味でしょうか？神が共におられるという意味です。今は皆さんが神さまと共にいるときなのです。

The main story of this Bible is NOT the story of Man desiring to be with God, it is a deep story of God's desire being with His creation. Jesus said that “Now, you have My Holy Spirit within you. All things are possible. Remain in Me.” Talk to Me-all the time. I want to hear from you no matter when, or what! “Listen to Me”, He would say, “because My Spirit is at work in you to do My pleasure, and Gode is prompting my thoughts and ideas in our heart.”
　聖書の中心的な話は人間が神と共に居ることを望んでいるのではなく、神様が人間と共にいたいという深い話なのです。イエス様はわたしの御霊があなたがたの中にいます。全てが可能になるのです。わたしにとどまりなさい。いつもわたしに話しかけて欲しい。いつでも何でも構わないからあなたの話を聞きたい。わたしの声を聞ききなさい。わたしの霊があなたがたのうちに働いている。わたしの霊はわたしの思いと考えをあなたの心に植えつける。

We need to be stubborn, immovable with this idea. Just stick with Me! Then wonderful things will happen. Our hearts will be able to reflect what the Father sees. We will see THAT FRUIT growing in our lives. He'd be the one who put it there…as you remain in Him!
私たちはこの考えに堅く立つ必要があります。イエス様と繋がれば素晴らしいことがおきます。わたしたちの心は神様の思いを映し出すことができるようになるでしょう。そして人生において御霊の実の成長を見ることができます。わたしたちがイエス様にとどまるなら御霊の実をいただけるのです。

This passage talks about fruit, right? What are the first three?
Love. Joy. Peace.
Listen to this: "As the Father has loved Me, so I have loved you." Whose love are we to stay in? Jesus' Love.
御霊の実のことを話しましたが、最初の３つの実はなんでしたでしょうか？愛、喜び、平安です。聞いてください。父がわたしを愛されたように、わたしはあなたがたをあいしました。この愛にわたしたちはとどまるのです。イエス様の愛にです。

Later He says: "I have told you these things so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete."
後にイエス様は「わたしがこれらのことをあなたがたに話したのはわたしの喜びがあなたがたのうちにあり、あなたがたの喜びが満たされるためです。

Who's JOY are we to live in? Jesus' Joy.
誰の喜びがわたしたちのうちにあるのですか？イエス様の喜びです。

In John 14:27, Jesus tells His friends, , "Peace I leave with you. My peace I give you. I do not give as the world gives."
ヨハネ１４：２７でイエス様は言われました。「わたしはあなたがたに平安を残します。わたしが与えるのは世が与えるのとは違います。」

Wonder of wonders! What peace are we to remain in? Jesus' Peace.
本当にふしぎです。どんな平安が残るのですか？イエスさまの平安です。

And as we remain in Him, it just flows just like the way it flows in the vine.
わたしたちがイエスさまにとどまるならぶどうの木のように実を結ぶでしょう。

Sistine Chapel:
God active, intense desire to be with and touch His Creation. Every tendon taut; arm is stretched out; His gaze fixed on Man. God's desire is to be with Man. While Man-laid back, relaxed, does not seem to lift a finger in response. In truth, God is MUCH closer than you think.
システィーナ礼拝堂：神さまが被造物と共にいたいという願いがそこにあります。伸ばされた腕、人間をじっと見つめる目。神様の願いは人間と共に居ることなのです。人間は寝転びながら神に応答しています。皆さんが考えるよりもはるか近くに神さまはおられるのです。

Grew up in a church that sang

“This is my Father's world, and to my listening ears all nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres. This is my Father's world: He shines in all that's fair.”

He is in all that is true and good. All that is, is because He made it!
子供の頃、教会で歌った歌ですが・・・
「これは父の世界、耳を澄ますと全ての自然は歌い、わたしの周も天の音楽を奏でる。これは父の世界。その輝きは全てに平等である。」

Another picture I think of is found in a book that has sold over 40,000,000 copies. Where's Waldo? He is on every page. Just hard to find him sometimes. He is behind something or in plain view but he is still hard to find. It takes time to find him. Sometimes it just takes memory, or patience, discernment.
もう一つの絵は、4千冊売れた本です。「ウォーリーを探せ」という本です。ウォーリーは全てのページに載っています。探すのはとても大変です。時には何かの後ろに隠れていたり、平面に描かれていたり・・でも探すのはとても大変で時間がかかります。彼を探すのにはお金も、忍耐も、洞察力も必要です。

He is always there on the page. Otherwise, it would not be Waldo! Sometimes I get frustrated not being able to find him, but he is there. My sons find him on every page! Real fast!
どのページもウォーリーはいます。それじゃなければウォーリーではないのです。
時に彼を見つけることが出来ず、イライラします。でもウォーリーはどこかにいるのです。
わたしの息子たちはどのページのウォーリーも直ぐに見つけることが出来ます。

I feel it is that way with God and me. Sometimes our relationship looks like the Sistine Chapel ceiling. Creative, awesome, majestic, while other times, somewhat lost…
神さまと私との関係も同じ気がします。時々、神さまとの関係はシスティーナ礼拝堂の天井の絵のようです。創造的で、壮大で、素晴らしいのですが、またあるときは迷い、見失ってしまいます。

So, we will continue to listen to the invitation of Jesus to remain in Him. Some times, Sistine Chapel Moments-while other times, “where in the world is He on this page of my life?” or a “Waldo Moment.”
だから私たちは続けてイエス様の導きを聞き、イエス様に繋がっていましょう。
システィーナ礼拝堂のようなときもあれば、私の人生のページのどこに神様がおられるのかと感じるときもあるでしょう。

This does not mean doing a lot of new things or hard things, just doing things with a different heart. With Jesus. Get up with Him. Eat B'fast with Him. Train it with Him. Work with Him. Sleep in Him. When you come home-re-enter deal. “Jesus, help me do this Your way.” Abide in the Vine. And remain fruitful.
これは何か新しいことをしたり、大変なことをすることではありません。イエス様と共に物事を進めるのです。イエス様と目覚め、朝食を取り、電車に乗り、仕事をして、眠る。
皆さんが家に帰ったとき、考え直してください。「イエス様、あなたの方法で出来るように助けてください。」ぶどうの木につながり、実を結んでいきましょう。

My Fruit: Gal 5; John 15

A while ago, I walked into a police station in Nagano to get my Japanese Driving license. At that time, it was easy to do. They checked my eye sight, looked at the translation of my RI license and had a photo taken. I got the license and I don’t want to let this license laps as it is MUCH harder now to get one. (Lessons, pay a lot of money, walk into the test area and sit in the car and fail…three or more times before they pass you.) No, I will work hard to keep my gold-band license.

That whole experience made me think about how often we are tested on quite finite matters like driver’s tests, vision, vocational, and cholesterol levels. It’s possible for people to live their whole lives and never REALLY do an assessment of their souls, which is eternal.

How is your soul? In need of repair? An overhaul, perhaps? Just a dusting and it will be fine, thank you. Never you mind, you’re meddling!

For the next few weeks in this new year, we will be looking at a series on the Fruit of the SPIRIT and Spiritual Gifts. As we look at Paul’s letter to the church at Galatia, Paul writes in Chapter 5, “The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

In order to get us thinking along these lines, I am ready to give to you a little self-assessment this morning. I want to give you a few questions to prompt your thinking on each one.

Here’s the scale: “S” is you would say you are “Superior” in this dimension; “P” stands for “Pretty Darn Good” and “N” would mean “Needs improvement.” We are just going to go over them one at a time and see how you do. You will not need to hand them in but DO fill it out and try to be honest. No cheating.

Number ONE: LOVE.

• How tender is your heart towards God and towards other people? Not just the ones that like you…
• Do you find yourself continually engaging in acts of servant-hood?
• Do you ever have a critical, judgmental spirit in your heart?
~ Rate yourself S, P or N. How are you doing in the Love Fruit today?

Now, did I tell you it was going to be easy? Well, it is not.

Number TWO: JOY.

• What is your current “touchiness factor?” (If you are not sure, your spouse or close friend or the person next to you may be willing to help you out…)
• Are you more inclined to speak words of complaint or gratitude?
• How often did you laugh this week? How much fun did you have?
• Are you able to choose JOY in times of frustration or difficulty?
~ Do you find yourself, even now, rationalizing your lack of Joy? Or wishing you would have visited another church this week?

Number THREE: PEACE.

It is not going to get any easier…
• To what degree are your heart and mind at rest in God?
• How consistently are you troubled or anxious?
• Would people who know you describe you as being contented or discontented? (Want to ask them?)
~ How do you come out on the FRUIT of PEACE?

Number FOUR: PATIENCE.

• How do you respond when you are frustrated or don’t get your way?
• Would those who know you describe you as a “Peaceful patient person?” Are you able to wait gracefully?
• How do you handle things when people aren’t moving as fast as you would like?
~ How are you doing in this area of Patience? If you have already moved on to #FIVE, give yourself an “N”.

Number FIVE: KINDNESS.

• Are you prone to lend someone a helping hand even though you are busy, or you know you won’t get credit for this?
• Are you one who encourages and affirms people?
• Do you consistently take the time to actually notice people and listen to them?
~ Do you find kindness alive and active in your life?

Number SIX: GENEROSITY.

• What portion of your time and material resources are you actually giving—not just thinking about giving—to God, to the poor, to other people?
• Do you ever find yourself wanting to give just the least amount acceptable? ~Do you have a generous heart?~
• Is your heart to give growing or shrinking?
~ That is GENEROSITY. Rate yourself.

Number SEVEN: FAITHFULNESS.

• Would people around you say that you are dependable?
• When you say you are going to do something, does it get done?
• Do you ever use words to deceive or to put a safe spin on things?
• Do you ever wrestle with procrastination?
~ If you haven’t started your list yet, give yourself an “N”!

Number EIGHT: GENTLENESS.

• How successfully do you speak the truth with Grace?
• Do you ever get angry and inflict pain of someone just because it will feel good in the moment?
• Over the last week, how many times have you come along someone who was hurting to give them comfort? Last month?
~ How are you doing on GENTLENESS?

Number NINE: SELF-CONTROL.

• Have any bad habits?
• Ever give into an impulse?
• How’s your mouth doing these days?
~ Rate yourself on self-control. Have I gotten you angry with me?

Just one more question and I’ll stop this painful experience. Does anyone feel a little inadequate? It is a funny thing, really. When we come to the topic of Fruit of the Spirit, this is the core of what spiritual growth is all about. People do get goofy ideas about what Spiritual Maturity really looks like.

What is Spiritual Maturity and if we would get a good idea of what it is, would that make us mature? Spiritual Formation is another word for this is all about. At the core of the issue, it is NOT being busy with a lot of Christian activities. NOT knowing a lot about the Bible. NOT the piling up of a lot of spiritual accomplishments.

You may remember that Jesus pointed that out that the religious leaders of His day (called the Pharisees) were the most unfruitful of them all. They had all the action but no heart. And some of their action was shallow and void of meaning.

But to grow in authentic Biblical Love and joy and peace and patience—that’s the center—the core of the target! That is the kind of people the Lord wants to see around His creation. That is the kind of people you and I want to be, but we may not feel we can do it. It is not that we don’t believe God could do it in us, we just don’t trust us.

Paul had the same problem: “I do the things I should not do and I don’t do the things I should!”

When we look at such a list, a few things may happen in us. One, we want to give up. Can’t go there—we are too far short of what seems to be the goal. Overwhelmed, we want to give up. In truth, we sometimes start violating the Fruit of the Spirit before we get out of bed in the morning!

We could also just tell ourselves that we need to try harder, love more and find that joy. Try harder to be more patient—right now! Work on a self-improvement program.

But that will not end well. We will become more frustrated and be consumed with us trying to be one of the Pharisees. That will not work. Works = dead end.

Here is what we are going to do instead. We are going to look at John 15:4-9 again and find the one word that is the key. One word that keeps coming up that will ensure the Fruit of the Spirit to be alive in us. Jesus talks about it pretty clearly. Listen again, for the first time:

Remain in Me and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself. It must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit. Apart from Me, you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in Me, and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be given you. This is to My Father's Glory that you bear much fruit showing yourselves to be My disciples. As My Father has loved Me, so have I loved you.

Jesus says, “I am the vine. You are the branch.” There is ONE thing that the branch is supposed to do. Did you see it there? “Remain.” One older form of that word is “Abide.” Day in and day out, keep remaining in Him. Keep receiving this unceasing flow of real life. Keep getting the nourishment and love from the Main Source. As My Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. And He loved you SO Much that He sent His Son to die for you! John 3:16

IF WE DO THAT—if we abide—the fruit will come. Can’t be stopped. However, if I don’t stay plugged in to Him—into God—then I’ll never be fruitful. I could never change. Real spiritual transformation takes place in the abiding, in the remaining. Transformation will never happen apart from being united IN HIM. I cannot do this on my own or by myself. It is done in Community with Him. “I can do all things through Christ who gives me power.”

This is part of why Paul uses the language that he does. Some of you may know that in Galatians, Paul is setting up a contrast. He says, "I don't want you to be characterized or marked by (what he calls) the works of the flesh." And then he lists those: "immorality, envy, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition.” Don't be characterized by this, but do be characterized by … and then we would expect him to say by "the works of the Spirit." He doesn't do that, because for Paul "works" has the connotation of effort and strain and self-righteousness, and that is not the kind of people that God wants to produce. So He says instead, "Be marked by the fruit of the spirit."

There's one more thing that would be good for all of us to know. Often people talk about the "fruits" of the Spirit, because there are nine of them, but if you look at Galatians 5, Paul doesn't say the "fruits." He uses the singular "fruit," and there's a reason for that. He's not listing nine character qualities that you're supposed to exhaust yourself trying to add to your "character repertoire OR inventory." It's just the "fruit" that is inevitable when anyone abides in the Spirit of Jesus.

So the good news is: you just have one job, and
that is to be with Jesus all the time—

just stay in the Vine.

<<<•>>>

I'd like to thank John Ortberg for the outline of this sermon entitled: Fruit of the Spirit: "Abiding".

Next week at ICCS: Covered Dish after the service. Bring friends and some food and drink to share. Plan on staying around until around 2:30!

There is pay to park now near ICCS. 100¥ per hour and only 600¥ for the whole day. Go south on 463 toward Tokorozawa one block away from the turn to ICCS (in block 7) and it is on the left hand side next to a Japanese Eatery across from a car dealership.

God provides! All the time!

A Testimony of A Changed Life

Last Sunday, here at ICCS, Reiko-San was baptized. She gave the following testimony in English and in Japanese. We are so glad our Sister found true Hope in a living relationship with her creator in the Person of Jesus Christ.

My testimony

God came into my life when I was 15. I was in the states for summer program of my high school and home staying in Christian family. My host family Browns loves Jesus a lot and is so faithful to Him.

As every teenager wonders so many things about their lives, so did I. I always felt empty and couldn’t communicate with my family, friend and others very much. Especially I really didn’t like to have a meal with somebody.

God touched my heart when I had a dinner at home with Browns for the first time. Before a dinner, they started to hold their hands with each other, sang a praise song and prayed (to) God. Then I did feel something warm touched my heart. It was the 1st time for me to feel secure to be with somebody and enjoy the meal. I felt my heart was healed by something at that moment.

The days spending with them surely changed my life. After being back to Japan I missed them a lot and started to think about God.

But right after that, some sad things happened to me. It was too sudden and too sad for just a high school girl. Most of them were human's death—I’ve lost my friends, relatives and people who loved me a lot by unacceptable ways. I couldn't understand what was going on in my life.

I still kept in touch with Browns. They always encouraged me and in the end of their letters and emails there were always the words about God.
"God loves you, He knows everything and will be with you all the time"--these words made me feel better, but also made me think why these sad things happened if God really loved me.

I tried so hard not to think anything. Kept all negative feelings deep inside of my heart.

After enrolling in Sophia Univ, I got sick because of these happenings and it was terrible. So that my Univ life was about going to hospital or being brought into ICU because of overdose. I thought nothing could fix my heart, but hopefully I was getting better about 3 yrs later.

Because my Univ is a Catholic school, during Univ time some teachers told me Jesus, but I couldn’t know Him for my savior.

After graduated Univ, I started to work. The hectic and stressful job made me feel spiritual thirsty and I started to read the Bible, which the Browns gave me before. But work made me sick again--I couldn’t find any hope in my life again. I was too tired and seemed like nothing helped me except going back to Oregon where Browns lives.

I don’t remember how I could make it to go back there with unhealthy condition, but I made it.

When I’ve been there that was just before Christmas of 2006. When we prayed before dinner like we did when I was there for the 1st time--I did feel something warm came inside of me! Again. Finally I realized it was God and thought I'd love to live with God like Browns did. Then I accept Jesus personally.

2yrs have passed after that Christmas. I've learned that many things--good or bad--happen even in Christian life. Even though we're imperfect and weak, Jesus still loves us and He can make us strong. I would love to live the rest of my life with His love and wanna share this special gift from Him with others like my family, friends and people whom I will get to know in future. So that I decided to be baptized today and wanna share my story with you all.

_________________

神様が私の人生に初めて分かる様に触れて下さったのは、私が１５歳の時でした。高校のプログラムで初めて外国に出たこの時、私はブラウン家というクリスチャンの家庭にホームステイしました。彼らはとても神様を愛していて、初めて直にクリスチャンの文化に触れた私にとって、その姿はとても新鮮であり、彼らとの生活を通して私は沢山の事を教えてもらいました。
当時の私はどの１０代の子もそうである様に、自分の人生や周囲の人間との関係にとても敏感な時期でした。いつも心に空白を感じ、本当に気を許して家族や友人、周囲の人とコミュニケーションが取れないでいました。特に当時の私にとっては、誰かと一緒に食事をする事はとても苦痛で仕方のない事でした。
　神様が私の心に初めて触れて下さったのは、ブラウンさん達と初めて食事をした時でした。私達はお互いの手を取り合って神様を褒め称える歌を歌い、神様に感謝してから食事を頂きました。その時、私の心にとても温かい気持ちが生まれた事を今でもはっきりと覚えています。その温かさは今までに一度も感じた事のないもので、この時私は生まれて初めて人といる事、食卓を囲むことの健やかさを感じました。
彼らとの生活は短いものでしたが、その先の私の人生を全く変えたと言っても過言ではありません。帰国後、私は彼らをとても恋しく思うと同時に、彼らが愛する神様とはどういうお方なのだろう？と時折考える様になりました。
ですがその直後、私の身の回りにとても悲しい出来事が連続して起きました。それはあまりにも突然で、ただの高校生でしかなかった私にはとても受け止めきれるものではありませんでした。当時起こった事の大半は大切な人達の死でした。友人、親戚、私をとても大切にしてくれた人達を同時に、しかもとても納得の行かない理由で亡くした事が受け止め切れず、当時の私は正直な所、一体何が起こっているのか理解が出来ない状態でした。
その様な時期も私はブラウンさん達とやりとりを続けていました。彼らは本当に賢明に私を励まし、支えてくれました。そして彼らの手紙やメールの最後には必ず神様の愛についての言葉がありました。その言葉はとても温かくて私を安心させた反面、本当に神様がこの世にいて私を愛しているなら、何故今こんな事が続けて起こるのだろうとやりきれない気持ちにもさせました。　
結局、私はまるでこれらの事は何も起こらなかったかの様に、今まで起こった事やその悲しみを自分の奥深くに仕舞い込む事にしました。
　大学進学後、受け止め切れなかった傷は心の病気と言う形で浮上してきました。私の心は切り裂かれたかの様にバラバラになり、大学時代の思い出といえばほぼ毎日の病院通いか、処方薬の大量摂取による入院生活でした。私はもう何も自分の心と身体を治す事は出来ないと思っていました。しかし、医師の賢明な治療と周囲の支えの結果、大学生活が終わる頃には人並みの生活を送れる程度まで回復する事が出来ました。
そんな大学時代も、神様は私に働きかけて下さいました。カソリックの大学である事が影響してか、何人かの教授や神父先生達が私に神様の事を懸命に伝えてくれようとしました。しかし、何も信じる事が出来なかった当時の私はいつも彼らの心からの神様への愛情を理解出来ず、彼らの親切を断り続けていました。
大学卒業後、忙しくストレスの多い職場に就職した私の心の支えはブラウンさん達がくれた聖書でした。しかし、ストレスや環境の変化で再度体調を崩してしまった私は、自分の生きている事に全く意味を見出せないまま抜け殻の様になってしまいました。自分の意思で身体を動かす事が困難になり、精神的にも疲れ切ってしまった私の頭にたった一つ浮かんだのはブラウンさん達の住むオレゴンに戻る事でした。
私がオレゴンに戻ったその時は２００６年のクリスマス直前でした。彼らの待つ家に帰り、初めてそうした時の様に食前の祈りをした時、私は再びあの時に感じた心の中の温かさを感じました。手を繋ぎ、祈っている間に私の心に生まれたのは、彼らが今までそうして来た様に、私も神様の愛情と共に生きていきたいという思いでした。そうして、神様が私の心に初めて触れた時から７年越しで、私は個人的な救い主として神様を受け入れる事が出来たのです。
　あのクリスマスから２年が経ち、私は例えクリスチャンになっても良い事、悪い事を含め、私達の人生にはたくさんの事が起こるのだと感じるようになりました。私達は弱く、不完全な生き物ですが、大切なのは神様に委ねて生きていく事、神様は私達を愛しておられ、私達が生きていくのに必要な強さを与えてくださると信じることなのだと思います。私はこの先の人生を、神様の愛の中に生き、神様から与えられたこの特別な恵みをクリスチャンの方々はもとより家族、友人、まだ見ぬこれから出会っていく人々とも分かち合って生きて行きたいと思います。以上が今日、私が洗礼を受ける事を決心した神様との歩みの初めであり、その事をみなさんに証したいと思います。

Overcoming Our Handicapped Lives

The ideas of this sermon come from the pen of Roger Barrier

Text:
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (The Message)

7-10 Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn't get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan's angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn't think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then He told me,

My grace is enough; it's all you need.
My strength comes into its own in your weakness.

Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.

God’s Grace: True story. Two pastors were on their way to Atlanta, Ga. for a large Christian men’s gathering. One of them had never been in the south before. After staying in a motel overnight, they stopped at a nearby restaurant for breakfast. When their meal was delivered, the pastor who had never been south before saw this white, mushy looking stuff on his plate. When the waitress came by again he asked her what it was. "Grits", she replied. "Ma'am I didn't order it and I'm not paying for it". "Sir, down here you don't order it and you don't pay for it, you just get it." How like the GRACE of God!

Topic: How to overcome life’s handicaps
Big Idea: God gives us handicaps for our own betterment.

Introduction
* Much of the great work in this world has been done by handicapped people:
•Ludwig van Beethoven: 1710-1827. Beethoven used a special rod attached to the soundboard on a piano that he could bite—the vibrations would then transfer from the piano to his jaw to increase his perception of the sound. Later, became 100% deaf. Also, he was most likely suffering from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder along with Albert Einstein, who also had dyslexia along with Donald Trump.

•John Milton: 1608-1674 Authored the Epic Paradise Lost. By the time of his death in 1674, Milton was blind, impoverished and yet unrepentant for his political choices. Milton had by then attained Europe-wide fame, and notoriety, for his radical political and religious beliefs, as well as his writings in English and Latin poetry.

•Helen Keller:(June 27, 1880 – June 1, 1968) was an American author, activist, and lecturer. She was the first deaf/blind person to graduate from college with a magna cum laude from Radcliffe College. She spoke and traveled opposing war, campaigned for women’s suffrage, and worker’s rights. Was made world known by the movie and play The Miracle Worker.

•David Beckham and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: have/had Tourettes Syndrome.

•Kristi Yamaguchi: an American figure skater and the 1992 Olympic Champion in women's singles. Yamaguchi also won two World Figure Skating Championships in 1991 and 1992 and a U.S. Figure Skating Championships in 1992. She won two national titles in 1989 and 1990 and one junior world title in 1988 as a pairs skater with Rudy Galindo. In December 2005, she was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame. Kristi was born with club feet.

* Paul also had a handicap or thorn. He says, "To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given unto me a thorn in my flesh.” - 2 Corinthians 12:7

* No one knows exactly what Paul’s thorn was, and he probably left it a mystery so everyone could identify with him.

* Handicaps come in many forms but they tend to be looked at as being ‘bad.’
To overcome life’s handicaps, trust that they are no accident.

* God has a plan for each of our lives, and to carry out that plan, He must correct us. Our thinking may be off center. It (LIFE) is not about me-it is about Him.

- Illustration: One man told the great preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon, who, because of his debilitating gout and kidney disease, was knit closer to Christ, as was evidenced in his preaching. It is really beyond our understanding at times. Or just a different way of looking at things.

To overcome life’s handicaps, say, “What an opportunity” Instead of “What if?”

* Paul rejoiced in his circumstances because he knew that God would pour His power into Paul’s life.
- Illustration: Norwegian Classical violinist Ole Bull once broke a string during a concert, but instead of stopping to replace the string, he improvised and finished the concert using only three strings.

To overcome life’s handicaps, stop window-shopping and enjoy your own inventory.
* Paul warns us in Rom 12:2-3 to stop comparing ourselves with others.

* God gives us each a special plot to till and accept, and the real test is what we will do with it. How can Man make better God’s creation? Why, indeed, do we believe we would know better…?

To overcome life’s handicaps, recognize that thorns set the stage for spiritual service.

* Paul would not have been Paul without the thorn in his side. “It” really made him who he was: dependent on the Lord.

- Illustration:

It Is Well with My Soul is a very influential hymn penned by hymnist Horatio Spafford and composed by Philip Bliss.
This hymn was written after several traumatic events in Spafford’s life. The first was the death of his only son in 1871, shortly followed by the great Chicago Fire which ruined him financially (he had been a successful lawyer). Then in 1873, he had planned to travel to Europe with his family on the S.S. Ville du Havre, but sent the family ahead while he was delayed on business. While crossing the Atlantic, the ship sank rapidly after a collision with another ship, and all four of Spafford's daughters died. His wife Anna survived and sent him the now famous telegram, Shortly afterwards, as Spafford traveled to meet his grieving wife, he was inspired to write these words as his ship passed near where his daughters had died.
The Spaffords later had three more children, one of whom (a son) died in infancy. In 1881 the Spaffords, including baby Bertha and newborn Grace, set sail for Palestine. The Spaffords moved to Jerusalem and helped found a group called the American Colony; its mission was to serve the poor. The colony later became the subject of the Nobel prize winning Jerusalem, by Swedish novelist Selma Lagerlöf.

taken from http://en.Wikipedia.org

To overcome life’s handicaps, find the strength in God’s Grace, which is energy enough when life gets tough.

* When Paul begged God to take away his affliction, God told Paul that God’s grace would be sufficient for him. But many of us say: “But the pain… I could do so much more without this… I feel it would be better than what You have planned for me… After all, I do know what works best for me!”

- Illustration: A boy playing by the sea coast cannot possibly drain the ocean with his sand pail. In the same way, God’s Grace will never run out.

* Illustration: A television show profiled three terminal cancer patients from the time of their diagnosis to their death. Two were faithless and their anger destroyed their relationships, while the third was a pastor who embraced God’s Grace and his impending death with faith.

• Illustration: When a person works an eight-hour day and receives a fair day’s pay for his time, that is a wage. When a person competes with an opponent and receives a trophy for his performance, that is a prize. When a person receives appropriate recognition for his long service or high achievements, that is an award. But when a person is not capable of earning a wage, can win no prize, and deserves no award—yet receives such a gift anyway—that is a good picture of God’s unmerited favor. This is what we mean when we talk about the Grace of God.

Clip-Art Features for Church Newsletters, G.W. Knight, p. 53

Handicapped by GRACE Alone!

---ˆˆˆ-------¨/||\¨---------ˆˆˆ---

Next week: Let's Talk About Fruit. It would be great if you would please read ahead from Galatians 5:16~25.