December - year in review

Tonight, in the oldest night of this year, my daily book on the psalms, which sits open on a shelf just above my kitchen sink and stove top (its pages stained with olive oil and cookie dough, and – I’ll admit – a little thawing chicken), reminds me that the psalms end with praise: “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.” Praise is bold. Keller says, “Every possible experience, if prayed to the God who is really there, is destined to end in praise.”

This year began with brokenness - disarray, wanting repair. Can we repair relationships when we feel like breaking up and finding new friends? Can we repair a house when everything seems broken? And then, neighborhood conversations sparked a budding new dream of communion around a table, and women began to gather. Of course, the reality is always different, better, than what one little mind considers.

As we gathered this year, our communion table is scratched, with a plastic veneer, smeared with rice from kids’ lunches. Or the table is a lumpy bench in the park, grubby with mud pies and spilled juice boxes. Or the dusty, construction-stained rug – always wanting a vacuum. But the Spirit is here. Moving, healing hearts. How many times this year did we silence each other – did you just see that? Did you see this moment? And as we sat, covered with babies, laughing and crying together, the music played in the background: Holy, holy, holy are you Lord God, Almighty.

By the time summer came, we felt overwhelmed and helpless. So much lost, lacking, undone. So many hearts. How can we hold them all? Remember, our pastor said: God is determined to build dependence in his people by giving them more than they can handle . . . He will give you more than you can handle so that you will run to him.

Our house is warm!

And as the weather cooled, reality hit: life without prayer and praise isn’t really life. What about trying church? So they started coming. Every week. We wept as we all took communion together, for the first time. Sisters, family.

Christmas message for community kids!

Now, we look ahead to tomorrow, the youngest day of the new year. Japanese tradition honors the first dawn, the first laugh, the first taste. We will once again take communion together, pray once again for repair, and look forward to the first psalm. We’ve prayed for our house to become like a sheltering, heartening tree, strong because of deep roots and enlivened flexibility. And this is the image in the first psalm, our first hope for the new year: “That person [who delights in God’s patterns] is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither”.

Now, in November

“You are blessed when you grieve; grieve sin, grieve where the curse isn’t yet rolled back.”

Waving hankies to show the headmaster: we won't catch colds!

The sermon on the second beatitude seemed apt, albeit somber, sitting in church with a jumble of wiggly kids. In front of me, a dear friend – just inquiring about this whole church and Jesus business – carrying a weight of heavy memories from the past. We talk a lot about forgiveness – will God really forgive anything I’ve done? Anything?

And beside our distracting row sneaks in another full family; their only son, just six months older than mine, heading in for yet another round of chemotherapy this week. I mourn with this mother, this father. Yet here they are, in community.

Happy 4th Birthday!

And here in the inbox sits an update from a sweet man in our community, detailing the discovery of not one but two tumors in his bride’s brain. Yet, “Jesus still loves her, loves us” he says.

We’re so thankful for the community we live in. Please join us in praying for these dear humans.

 Where the Spirit is moving, sin is ever present. Please pray for our health, our marriage, our family, and the families in our community.

For three years, going on four, we’ve met to pray. And our numbers have grown along the way. So we all got together, to celebrate our thanks. Piled in together, tables heavy with plates and trays and elbows and smiles. Juice spilled into the seats, crumbs ground in the rug, and teenagers ate all the pumpkin pie notwithstanding – here they are, these so many children. My heart overflowed to see them, all in one squirmy, sticky place. Giving thanks together. 

Thanks Giving, international style!

Snack date

Hey look, snow!!

Oh, October!

The day before two amazing women came to church for the first time, with their little ones, we went out to cut, bundle and air in the sun, the full grown rice we planted last spring. The harvest is plentiful, he said to them . . . .  

Hard working playmates

We harvested with just one other family, a sweet, intimate time, and we marveled: our kids have grown so since we did this last! Three years ago they were squeamish about a toe in the muddy field, now they march in and carefully cut bundles alongside! And three years ago, our fledgling group of women knelt behind church pews and on playgrounds, getting in a prayer or two. Now our group has grown, and the Spirit is palpable; those around peer in - why are you such good friends? Why are you able to help each other out so much? Does prayer really help you that much? How can you smile in the face of this diagnosis?

Sunday school - Happy 6th birthday!

Please stand in awe and praise with us: women came with their kids to church for the first time. It's really just about friendship, about being together and walking each other home. 

Meanwhile, late one night - that inevitable, magical time, long after he was supposed to be home - the student, with one lingering, stalling question after another, asks, finally, what should I do about my friend who is self-harming? And they sit down at the dusty tables, settling in to conversation, while sawing the lock of the bike with the key lost in the shuffle of the day's activities. Unlocking the bike to go safely home, unlocking the heart holding so much hurt and stress inside. 

And it's all a bit overwhelming, these moments. But then I came to this (in my grandfather’s well-scribbled devotional book, a Christmas present from my mother):

"Have you ever noticed the 'wondering-ness' (if I may coin a word) of the people who go on with God? They never seem to be over-anxious or over-concerned, and they always seem to be getting younger." (Chambers, If ye shall ask . . . 44-45)

Sliver of September

Afternoon tea

Just like that, you stop and realize that the air is not deafeningly loud with cicada cries. And the stillness feels cool. Slightly fall-ish. But life rushes on with soggy laundry and sleepy students and so many rainy days. 

And she asks, while we sweat in the hot sun to pick up our kids from pre-school, "You pray, right? When you are anxious?" "Yes! I could never do this - raise kids, be married, live life - without prayer. Come and see for yourself; we're meeting tomorrow!" 

Sisters

So of course, here we sit on our knees. Worn coffee table scattered with lunch boxes, bibles, prayer sheets, bits of food left by sticky fingers. Take turns praying with our eyes open to watch the littles who will tip the coffee mugs and scribble pen on their faces. We praise for mercy. Intercede for this child, that husband, this mother. These women, this time is a gift. We all sense it. We marvel to each other: the holy spirit is right here and we get the front row seat!

Summer photos!

Summer projects!

The spirit is moving in this community! Women are smiling again. Laughter lines instead of taut worry. Making beauty out of confused, ugly, difficult moments. Where the holy spirit is moving, there is always resistance. Please pray for the hearts of the women who are open to the gospel. Pray for the health of their families, and the softening of their hearts.

 High school students at Christian Academy have a week of special leadership classes for the first week of October. Students will travel to serve in other parts of Japan, work on leadership and collaboration in an extended hike through the mountains, and work on various projects in our city. Please pray for safety, rich learning experiences, and transfer of learning back to the regular classrooms.

A glimpse of August

Dear community,

For this month, I want to share a talk I wrote for a kid's sermon this summer. The target audience was this lively little group of individuals you see pictured below, but I felt it connected well with adults too. It's longer than what I usually compose here, so I won't feel bad if you skim. In a beautiful connection, this chapel is where Ryan and I got married nine years ago! 

The text is Psalm 27, primarily verse 4: "One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple."

photo credit: Phil Foxwell

. . .

hi, i’m happy to see you all! today we’re talking about two ideas. these ideas are actually things that i think you guys are really good at and adults like me have a hard time with. 

so i’m going to tell you the two things and remind you that you are really good at them, and then ask you to help the adults in your life do a better job with these two ideas. 

so here’s the first idea: dwell. 

the first part of today’s verse says: that i may dwell in God’s house

what does dwell mean? to stay, to linger, to move in for a long, slow time. here at Takayama, we each have a place where we dwell for a week or so. but one of the great things, i think, is that we are all neighbors. a lot of days, some of you have come over to my house, and come in to play. it’s great, and i love welcoming friends into my house. 

and when you come in, you do the next word: inquire

the next verse says, inquire of God . . .

what does inquire mean? it means to ask a question. usually, that’s the first thing someone does when they come to my house. they might first say, “hi!” but they usually also say, “what are you guys up to?” and then we say, “hey, come on in!” 

can i tell you something? God loves it when you say that to him: “hey, God? can I come in?” God will always say, “yes! I’m expecting you!”

then there’s another question that a lot of you ask, that God also loves: “what are you doing? can i help?” God loves this. My kids always ask me this, and i try to let them help, even when it gets really messy. and you know? God is just the same way; God loves to have your help even when it gets extra messy. 

here’s another way some of you inquire when you come to my house: i’m hungry! (that’s not really a question is it). what you mean is, do you have any food for me? this is one of God’s favorite questions i think. when you go to God’s house, there is always lots and lots of good food, and always enough to share. 

and here’s one last question; no one has asked me this so far this week, but it happens sometimes. actually, the guy, David, we’re reading about today, this was probably his biggest question: I need help! I’m scared, can i hide here? this is a very important question that you should always ask when you need. God’s house is always a place to hide.

now, what were our two words? dwell, and inquire. as kids, you are very good at dwelling, at coming into a place, making it your own and relaxing there. and you are very good at asking important questions like, “can i help?” and “do you have food for me?” and “can i hide here for a while?” adults are not so good at asking these questions. adults feel like maybe they’re in the way or being a bother. and adults feel like they shouldn’t ask too many questions otherwise people will be annoyed. 

so here’s the thing: when adults are in charge, sometimes what we call God’s house gets a little weird. you have to be really quiet all the time, and sit really still and not move around for a really long time, and there aren’t usually snacks, or at least not very good ones. but you guys know, that’s quite what God has in mind. God likes to hear our voices, and God likes when we’re energetic and asking how we can help with his plans. and God likes when we have good things to eat. 

today’ we’ll try to make God’s house a little more like God likes it. I have a snack for you! just a little something, but it’s to remind you that you should always come over to God’s house and move in there, and you will always be fed! 

July journeys

Star festival wishes outside pre-school

Legend has it that early July is the clearest night of the year in Tokyo, making the stars most bright and beautiful. The best time to “wish upon a star.” So each child makes a star wish or two and hangs it on a bamboo branch. Our wishes included “wanting to be a mother when I grow up,” “wanting a pet kitten” and “wanting to be friends with Shun forever.” The spirit world, and religiousness, is alive and well in Japan. Everything has a spirit and a presence, from the bubbling spring feeding the river in our neighborhood to the doorway entering a home. 

Last day before summer break!

Respect for these spirits, these presences feels inherent to Japanese culture. Yet, the spirits are often ends in themselves, and wishes hang limply in the air, like faded paper on a crispy dried out bamboo stem cut from the roots. Please pray for us as we use this wishing season to connect our friends to the true Root, the source of all hope and the Maker of the stars.

Join us on our knees:

Cousins!

• Our mom’s open house time is gaining momentum! We’re so excited to have a steady core group of attendees and a strong camaraderie in the women hosting. Please pray for open hearts, healthy hosts (feels like many of our kids get sick right around these open houses, and we don’t think its a coincidence), and courage to speak and live transparently in our community. 
• Our community project is moving forward! Two local churches are dreaming up a partnership to create a new program for moms, kids and families in our city. Please pray for unity among team members, for a shared vision, for committed volunteers, and for God’s glory as we create a safe, welcome space. Our step this month is to gather families from each church willing to commit to hosting the opening event. 
• Ryan’s summer work is going smoothly and safely, and we’re so thankful for the extra work opportunities!  



Elementary school friends reunited!

• Thanks to the astounding generosity of our family, we were able to travel to the US for a quick trip and see some of you, and witness our sweet cousin marry her sweetheart and kindred spirit. We’re grateful for the opportunity to connect with our home sending church and a handful of cousins.