Give Thanks 2

Today I want to give thanks for AGC, Anointed Gospel Choir.  I have been a member since 2007 and have enjoyed each lesson, concert, coffee time, tea time, dinner, dessert, conversation, laugh, and song that we have shared.  Yamamoto Sensei's ministry is touching lives and sharing God's love around Kansai.  I have enjoyed watching him lead and grow, encourage and learn as he has taught us.
Last year about this time we had our 2011 annual concert.  Here are a few pictures (You can see last year's post here.)

Give Thanks

November has started and my quest to share my thanks daily here on my blog will pick up where it left off last year.  Actually, I have been keeping a gratitude calendar this year.  I got a pocket calendar that has a section with the whole month on a page at the front of the book, and then has spaces to write daily activities at the back of the book.  Every day this year I have written at least one thing, usually three, for which I am thankful.  It has been a great way to close out each day.

This year I am going to try something a little different.  In my iPhoto program there is a collection of pictures called "Last 12 Months."  I guess if I have taken a picture of something in the past 12 months, I wanted to remember it for some reason and may be thankful for it.  So, I will start with the oldest pictures and post a picture each day explaining what in that picture causes me to be grateful.  (I won't post every picture since the album contains 2300 or so photos!)

Today I am thankful for Mr. and Mrs. Sakamoto.  One year ago they received this picture of the names of Jesus to hang in their house.  I am thankful for the way God has worked in their lives, helping them to understand who He is.  I am thankful that they were baptized last month (that picture may come up later!).  It amazes me that God has allowed me to be part of the watering process in their spiritual lives.  I am grateful!

Lame attempt

I have been wanting to write a blog post before the end of the month, just so that I could have 4, one for each week of the month.  I am sure I have lots to say, but somehow when I put the pressure on myself that I have to blog, all of my good ideas sound not as good.  So, I am just going to say good night to October and move on to November-back to a month of thanks.  This is something that usually inspires me and I am looking forward to a new month!
Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His love endures forever.  Psalm 136:1
 

A bit obsessed

I have become a bit obsessed with seeing the sunrise.  As I have written before, I get out of bed, stop in the washroom(as my Canadian friends say:)), grab my camera and Bible and go out onto the veranda.  I read and watch the sky.  When the sun is just ready to appear, I start snapping pictures.  I cannot stop!  I am completely obsessed.  It has nothing to do with getting the right picture.  It has become a special time when God rains down His love.  I literally can't wait to get up in the morning to watch the sunrise. Tomorrow morning is supposed to be rainy, but I will get up with anticipation because maybe I will get to see the sunrise between rain showers like I did last week!

Today's sunrise

Yesterday's sunrise

Between the rain showers

Another Gospel Cafe

Last Saturday we at Komyo Christian Church hosted another Live Gospel Cafe.  I love these events.  We invite musicians to come share the gospel through song and testimony.  We serve lots of food for people to eat while listening.  Church people, people from the neighborhood attend, people from AGC, and friends of the guests attend.  We get to chat before and after the concert.  It is a great way to spend an evening!

We were happy to welcome J-Brand Gospel Choir last week.  Their songs and testimonies were filled with Truth and God's love.  I am grateful for their willingness to travel all the way here from northern Osaka to share with us.

Getting started

Some AGC friends

Some Komyo Church attendees

FOOD!

Happy birthday to the youngest attendee-
she turned one the next day!

Sign language was included, too

Singin'

The choir and some of their friends

Sunrise

Now that the sun is rising a little later these days, I actually get to see it!  In fact, it is what gets me out of bed most mornings now.  I literally walk straight from the bedroom to my veranda in the living room.  It is an amazing way to start the day!
Here are some pictures taken recently, including a couple from Ise Bay the day after the recent typhoon while I was in Tsu.

Thoughts and Clouds

Sitting in silence in the early morning.  As I watch the sky and try to follow my thoughts, trying to be silent and wait, I see that my thoughts are like the wispy clouds that are floating quickly in front of the sun and then dissipating.

There are thicker, slower-moving, barely-moving, clouds behind those clouds, deeper thoughts I want to bring before God, but the wispy clouds keep distracting me.

Every once in a while there is a break in the clouds, both wispy, quick-moving clouds and thicker slow-moving clouds.  In those moments the sun shines brightly, warming my face, assuring me that there will be a break, there will be a time when my soul will find rest in God alone, when I will be able to hear my Savior's voice more clearly again.

Until then I will continue to sit in the silence-sit until there is silence-knowing that the sun is behind those clouds and that it is shining as brightly as ever, helping the clouds to dissipate.