God IS love.

Went to Shinjuku Shalom on 9th April. Youth Pastor preached on a new beginning and prayed for all those who are starting school because April is the start of the academic year in Japan. Was too shy to stand up *ha*

Am the only one using translation set and poor Kumi and Takako had to take turn to translate for me. Kumi later told me that she was glad to have a chance to do a real-time translation. It was her first time as Takako had been coaching her. But i felt kinda bad cos Kumi couldn`t sit and listen to the sermon and i was the only one who needed translation.

The practice for Shalom is they will usually have 30min after service to have cell group. But that day we only had 20 minutes cos there were too many items due to the start of the academic yr.

Here`s a quick sharing:

Michiko-san, Kumi`s spiritual mum, works in Shalom (i am not sure as what, not pastor, leader?) and she speaks good English. According to Kumi, she lived in US for a long time after she took her theological studies there. Not sure if this is the lady Ps Christina was talking about.

Anyway Michiko-san shared 1 Cor 13:13

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Wow! I was blown away! She spoke on a subject that was very close to my heart and she told us to meditate on 1 Cor 13:4-8, which is my favourite ` Love is patient, love is kind...` She went on to explain that God is love and (1john4:8) Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Now this is one new verse that i am mediatating on. And this love is AGAPE. Loving one another (John 13:35). Not by outward appearances, but by our actions and our hearts.

I learnt another new word, しんこ (shin-ko) which means faith. And we need to express our faith through love. Mind-boggling huh?
Gal 5:6 `...The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.`

As Good Friday and Easter draw near reminding me of Jesus` ultimate act of sacrifice, showing this VERY love, it sets me pondering on how i can be like Christ and display this kind of love.

First i thought i understood the `love is patient, love is kind..` and i was in the `Back to serve with love` after i came back from MOL Tokyo last Oct. Ha, now i realise i have a lot more to learn. But i am trying.

Someone whom i really love loves to talk about LOVE. Now i see the point. I am starting to get excited to talk about LOVE. Ha! You`re good!