Woodford Run the Race

Stoked for Olympics 2012...countdown: 178 days to go!

Here's our vision for the Olympics and getting churches involved:

Be Creative.

Wonderfully Made

One of my favorite Psalms I've been meditating on lately...thank you Jesus we have freedom from comparing ourselves to each other and knowing we are each unique-fearfully and wonderfully made.

You have searched me, LORD, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
How precious to me are your thoughts, God!
How vast is the sum of them!
Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand—
when I awake, I am still with you.

If only you, God, would slay the wicked!
Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!
They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries misuse your name.
Do I not hate those who hate you, LORD,
and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?
I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.

See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.

-Psalm 139

TFG Wales Conference

90 Time for God volunteers from across the world in Wales=awesome week of reflection, refreshment, and beautiful scenery. I still can't believe I've been here for 4 months...I'm excited for God's plans in the upcoming months. Wales is so lovely...green hills, open fields, sheep grazing...I highly recommend it! After being in a busy city, I appreciate time being in the country, hiking, and a change of pace. Reminded me a bit of Seattle with the rain and trees.

We were separated in four groups; relating our volunteering year to Bible verses, a drama performed at the end of the week, film/story-telling, and arts/crafts. I enjoyed watching Gran Torino and how it related to our year...such a powerful movie if you haven't seen it. We discussed how it will be hard going back to the states and telling our stories of volunteering abroad. You really cannot put it in words. That's why I'm taking plenty of pictures...but in 12 words, I would describe my time as: Woodford, Bible study, Sunday School, laughter, fun, Olympics, loving, Jesus, challenging, youth, Family, and growing.

I wrote out a list of goals for the rest of my time here/prayer requests:

• Make deeper relationships with friends, church staff, and home-stay
• Blessings others in the community
  
• Feel at home
• Have fun :) To be thankful for each day
• Grow in Bible study/home group
  
• Travel...take advantage of living in Europe
• Learn how to cook proper English food
• Asking God for wisdom
  

Lord, in the midst of frustration, loneliness, disappointment, excitement, happiness, and love...you are still God.

"But as for me, I will look to the Lord and confident in Him I will keep watch; I will wait with HOPE and expectancy for the God of my salvation; my God will HEAR me." -Micah 7:7

Thank you, Daddy

This, then, is how you should pray:

"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." -Matthew 6:9-13

Amen! I've been praying the Lord's prayer everyday and it has been helping me to re-focus my mind on Him. I hope it will do the same for you.

Thank you Lord for all your blessings...especially in the past week. YWAM (Youth With A Mission) has been helping with our youth on Thursday nights and it has been so awesome...not only are they AMERICANS-they are so much fun and bring energy to the group. We've been looking at God's character...He's our Daddy and not some distant person up above. Daddy is patient, kind, does not envy, does not boast, and is not proud. It's so refreshing to call Jesus our Dad...especially when our earthly fathers fail us, He's there for us.

Thank you for meetings in preparation for the Olympics...we are actually in 2012 and only 6 months away till the Games begin! It's all very exciting and becoming a reality in London. I pray that Jesus would reign over our plans for Woodford...especially our Family Fun Day/Opening Ceremony screening and Queen's Diamond Jubilee Street Party.

Retreat to ADVANCE was amazing. Sweet time of fellowship with young adults at church, tropical paradise swimming pool (water slides!), growing deeper in Jesus, and getting away from the city. I enjoyed the speakers and convicting messages...especially about living generously. As a TFG volunteer, I've been challenged to live simply with our small stipend each week...it's hard for me to be generous with tithing and buying gifts for friends. However, if we're called to be a blessing to the nations, we need to LIVE GENEROUSLY. Even the little things, such as buying a drink for a friend or making dinner for people you love.

The speaker also gave us four questions to think about...

1. What am I doing with my time?
   
2. What am I doing with my pain? (We need to give it to Jesus and acknowledge our brokenness.)
3. What am I doing with the gifts He's given me?
   
4. How do I spend my money? (Where your treasure is, your heart will follow.)
   

A friend shared this verse with me when I was missing my family, friends, and home in the states. Thank you Jesus for providing all my needs...“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life." -Mark 10:29

Bless the Lord

My new favorite song by Matt Redman (English worship leader)...

Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name

The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning
It's time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes

Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name

You're rich in love, and You're slow to anger
Your name is great, and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find

Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name

And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years and then forevermore

Culture Shock

So I've been here almost 4 months now...I'm experiencing a bit of culture shock at the moment and missing home. I miss familiar faces, Hawaii's beautiful 80 degree weather, and Japanese food to name a few...England's weather isn't my favorite as it gets dark at 4pm and the dark clouds are affecting my mood. (I heard it gets better in March and warms up) I knew I would experience culture shock at some point...feels like a rollercoaster. When I first moved here, it was fresh, new, and exciting...as a couple months go by, I realize I'm here for a while and it becomes everyday life. Pray God would strengthen me and keep trusting in Him for joy.

Psalm 23: "Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." When we walk through dark times, God is with us. We can't run through it...just keep walking.

I love Psalm 121 as well..."I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD watches over you— the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore."

In youth group, we're going through 40 Days of Community by Rick Warren...great book. God has been teaching me what it means to love. Life is all about loving people and developing relationships with God and others. Lord, I pray you would help me be mindful and less self-centered. Real love focuses on "how can I serve you?" and not how you can serve me.

I'm excited for Retreat to ADVANCE this weekend...equipping 18-30 yr olds for radical kingdom living. Tim Hughes, famous worship leader will be leading...thankful for a time to get away, spend time with friends, and grow deeper in my faith. Also, it's our last Time for God conference in Wales next week with the other 90 volunteers in the UK...looking forward to it and I'll update when I get back! :)

Hello 2012...

It's going to be a good year. :) Spent New Years Eve in the city- watching fireworks over the River Thames, hearing Big Ben chime at midnight, and reflecting how blessed I am to be here. Thankfully, we survived the crazy mosh pits of drunk guys, people fainting on the bridge, and masses of crowds on the tube.

I leave you with this verse for 2012..."And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28

MOVE

MOVE from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

Psalm 19

A Psalm for the new year...Thank you Lord for your truth as it refreshes my soul.

The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they reveal knowledge.
They have no speech, they use no words;
no sound is heard from them.
Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.
It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is deprived of its warmth.

The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The decrees of the LORD are firm,
and all of them are righteous.

They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the honeycomb.
By them your servant is warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
But who can discern their own errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.
Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then I will be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.