Deep roots

I tried writing a paraphrase of Psalm 112 and I ended up writing a sermon to myself. I urge you: give God all your thanksgiving and amazement. When we walk in a right fear & awe of the Lord, our priorities fall into the right place. We will be happy in any circumstances. We take…

Surprisingly deep

I recently began watching Korean dramas again. I watch them in spurts, because I get sucked in to the story and all I want to do is watch. After I finish a drama, I take a break because I know I spent too much time on that. That’s what happened this past weekend. Whenever the…

Just the Gospel. Again.

I’ve been hesitant to write recently. There are many reasons. I’m busy with my now-ten-month-old baby boy. There is a lot happening in our world right now that many people have been writing great thoughts about. All I want to write about is how I was reminded of the Gospel recently. It’s so strange, you…

Consider the birds…

Often I am reminded of the importance of listening prayer. I was visiting my parents a year ago and they had an incredible book about healing and listening prayer. I was struck by the wealth and depth of resources God has gifted us with that we seldom tap into. Recently I heard a great podcast…

Fairy tales in a liquor store

A memory. I sink into my bright orange seat on the train, trying to soak in as much heat from under the seats as possible before stepping into the cold, humid, winter air of Saitama. I sit with my best friend and constant train companion, Bethany, and we giggle loudly about silly little girl things…

Sparks in unlikely places

I finished my call with the scholars. Immediately the electrician commented, “that is wonderful! You are telling those kids about Jesus!” I was taken aback. “Yes,” I told him. “And pray for them, because many of them still do not believe that Jesus is the Savior and don’t accept him.” He told me he goes to a Baptist church not so far away and asked me what church I attended.

Sing to the Lord…

How many times have I read the phrase “Sing to the Lord a new song?” I even sang it in Japanese as a child, “Atarashii utao…” For some reason just now the word new really stuck with me when I read Psalm 98:1. I have come so far in my journey as a worshipper. I’ve struggled with…

Being Max

It’s the ultimate tale of self-deception. The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning is honest, refreshing and full of fascinating stories. A few days ago, I listened to a chapter that has haunted me. Manning relates how he was a participant at a recovery center for alcoholics. A fellow participant named Max was on the spot,…

Godliness + Contentment = Gain

Read: I Timothy 6: 3-19 ESV “…imagining that godliness is a means of gain…” Before I began working at Hope Academy, I had never considered working at a Christian school. There is a good reason for this. I am the product of a Christian school, and as much as I admire the staff there, it…

Tasting Grace

This is a review of and reflection on Tasting Grace: Discovering the Power of Food to Connect Us to God, One Another, and Ourselves by Melissa d’Arabian. She was being interviewed on the podcast Don’t Mom Alone. Sometimes God is gracious enough to smack me in the face with the resource that I need to hear the truth, and this was one of those cases. I listened, riveted, as I walked to the park with Eugene in the stroller.