Easter weekend was wonderful. Met up with my family members, friends, spent 3 days at my church, seeking God and connecting with God on a deeper level... was not expecting a big spectacular storm from God and indeed, God came through as a little whisper, through the worship, messages, Bible verses and spiritual counsel He has surrounded me with.
Sanctification = to make pure/holy; to be set apart for God.
Praise the Lord that I can be back in merlion-city, taking time to come before God on Good Friday, to ponder on His redemptive work on the cross, the price Jesus paid and to receive His cleansing and affirmation once again. (Just in time for Spring too - Hello new start in sushi-land!)
My sense of purpose was renewed, answers were seeked and found, a paradigm shift was experienced, affirmation was received, all in a quiet and unobtrusive manner. Perhaps that was what Elijah experienced:
(
1 Kings 19:9-13)And the word of the LORD came to him: "What are you doing here, Elijah?" He replied, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too." The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" God does not throw thunderbolts into our paths to get our attention but instead, He tugs gently at our heartstrings and waits for our response patiently. We may be unfaithful but God's faith in us never wavers.
Exodus 33:15Then Moses said to him, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.To be able to utter this statement requires total conviction and a whole lot of courage. And when I heard this verse, I felt so convicted. And I want to say this boldly and remain steadfast in my prayer:
"If your Presence does not go with me, do not send me from here. Let this prayer from my heart be heard and bless the works of my hands for these are hands that labor for You and You alone. Grant me a restful spirit that will commit all burden to You for Your yoke is light, and that I will not run ahead of You but instead trust in Your lead and to never let go of Your hand that is ALWAYS IN CONTROL. Thank you Lord, for a victorious weekend and I know it can and will only get better! In Jesus' name I ask and pray, AMEN!"
Yeah!! ３月２０日was the 大喜之日for Ai-chan and Mago-chan. They held their simple wedding ceremony at Shinjuku Shalom Church.
The very lovely Ai-chan, and the devastatingly handsome and gentle Mago-chan. A perfect match made in heaven!
The guys in Shalom youth ministry with the bridegroom.. everyone's been waiting for this day for a loooong time ;)
The bride and the ladies, knowing that God honors her obedience for waiting upon Him.
Taking a group photo after the ceremony! Here I am in merlion-city, wishing I could attend my very first wedding in sushi-land but nevertheless, here's wishing them a blessed marriage and may God continue to use them mightily, as ONE, for His glory! Amen!
Pastor Elmer praying for Steven with Pastor Shingo in the pool with him.
