Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
These verses have been on my mind lately. The entire chapter, chapter 43, is such a hopeful chapter and it cuts to the quick as certainly as it promises that God is working in you. In the very first verse God declares "I love you!" He's chosen you, you're precious.
I just want to take a printout of this chapter and run around, waving it in peoples' faces.
Look! Look! Don't be so discouraged!!
God loves you!
God made you; God chose you; you're so, so precious to Him!!
There are so many that I wish, wish, wish, could understand this.
But time and again the last few weeks, the Lord's opened my eyes to passage after passage where he says that He is the one who opens eyes and softens hearts. We are merely harvesters, it's God who plants the seed and allows it to grow. I get frustrated at this at times, but then I remember how royally I would screw up humanity if salvation were left up to me. God's plan, God's purpose, God's timing... are perfect.
Back to the verses.
These two, 18 and 19, are particularly poignant to me this morning. The Lord says, "See! I am doing a new thing! Do you not perceive it?" I confess that I don't. I know that this time is a time of preparation and a time of pruning for me. I know and have known that this time here is a sort of starting point in my life. It's like the Lord's saying, "Okay, we're done messing around. That other stuff was all to get you here. Are you ready? From this point on, we're running. You and me, we've got work to do." I know He's doing a new thing. But I don't perceive it. And it absolutely amazes me when other people do. When other people call out traits in me that I swear aren't there. It confuses me. But at the same time, gives me a little thrill because I know that it's the Lord's work they're seeing. The Lord has the power to clear or cloud vision. You will see what He needs you to see.
The Lord is good.
Today is the last GT rally in Shibuya. There's another bake sale, so I was able to spend yesterday evening baking once again. This time I made mocha chip cookies and banana bread. I feel like a true baker now because with both, I started with a very very basic recipe and made it my own.. The cookies came from a basic sugar cookie recipe and the banana bread had only the basic five ingredients: Flour, eggs, bananas, baking soda, and sugar! I will take this time to indulge in just a bit of pride and say that I'm very happy with the way my recipes turned out.
I've been getting very addicted to one particular Japanese drama called Hana Yori Dango. Oh dear. It's aimed towards teenage girls, but it's absolutely fantastic! I can't wait to share it at home. The first episode I watched, I laughed quite a bit; but now that I'm into the second (and final!) season, the things that I laughed at are heart-wrenching and last night as I watched episode 6 I found tears running down my cheeks. Haha! Just one more thing about Japanese life that I love.
I may not be called to stay here. But I know I want to come back. I would love to lead an annual trip with people from whichever church I settle down in and I'm so excited to know that next summer I'll have the opportunity to come back with the group that Grace sends each year. I know I'll be back.
Happy Saturday :)
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