IN PAPA'S LAP

Isn't it infuriating when you KNOW something was "crystal clear" in a dream, but the moment you get upright, the body fluids rush out of your brain and you LOSE the whole thing?! I think if I were a film director, I would show tenants in the apartment of the head rushing downstairs and out the doors of the building, turning out lights as they go, showing what happens.

"In Papa's Lap." It was about those three words, about starting every morning climbing into my Heavenly Father's arms. It's maddening  because I've felt for a long time now how it is important to do so, but this dream made it so undeniably simple yet slightly different from anything I've said before. But...what was it? I sympathize, partially, with Nebuchadnezzar's feeling of wanting to know what his dream was. 

"For the Father loveth the Son, and showeth him all things that he himself doeth;" (John 5:20)

Daniel got it right. He knew the mighty God Who loves us is also the giving God who shows us the secrets of our minds and told Nebuchadnezzar so.

I was thinking of something that flashed across the pharmacy lobby T.V. screen yesterday: the "Giving Tree", about a book by Shel Silversteen. Have you read that picture book? 

The application makes a big difference. God can give all, unreservedly, but with humans, you've gotta think in terms of moderation, balance, fairness, etc. Can the unregenerate mind make sense of how an Infinite, Immortal Soul can spend itself empty for self-centered man? Then He calls, "Come," (Matt. 11:28-29); if we'd repent and rest our weary souls in Him, like that Tree, He'd be happy. But many of us have found the very gifts given us keeps us satisfied from Him (Isa.57:10) until much too late.

Here's an imaginary "epilogue" of sorts: the boy dies, but the trunk offers long slivers of bark to weave into a wicker "natural coffin" for popular back-to-earth burials; then even the last bits of its remaining wood to be ground into pulp for paper on which are written stories about the boy, kept alive in readers' minds  for generations in books such as The Giving Tree.

No; the God of Heaven didn't send me the continuation of a dream of a child on a Father's Knee. He sent visual images of a carefree little boy in the boughs of Grace.

Wow; Now THAT was a surprise! 

FLEAS AND PLEAS

It was time to go to the clinic again to pick up my medicine. But when I opened the front door and stepped out, I saw the little box to my right and remembered.

Several posts ago "Dead Grass", I told you about the stray cat that came to the house...well, it kept coming back. I realized it's not remarkably attractive but has markings resembling a newborn kitten we saved a while ago, which had been caught by another kitten who had mistaken it for a mouse and been playing with it rough enough to break its back. We rescued and tried to help it, but it had died on us that night. No doubt Kinya's heart strings had been pulled when he saw this cat--I mean, it was his idea to set out the box for the cat; and Kinya's the one who went out and bought the feeding tray and cat food without saying a word to me about it!

When the cat first came, she would flinch at your every movement, but not anymore. "We're going to the doctor's; you watch the house, ok?" I said when we left, and it seemed perfectly relaxed when we came back.

Kinya said the cat would even come inside, but he kept it out because he was sure it had fleas. Fleas in a stray cat--poor thing--I hadn't thought about that.

All I know is, I wanted a cat, and God engineered the situation so that Kinya himself is the one who wanted it here so I didn't even have to ask for it--thank you Lord!

THOUGHTS ABOUT JOHN 5:7

Every once in a while in my memory work, I step away from Revelation, right now, I'm reviewing John 5, about the healing at the pool of Bethesda.

May I share some thoughts I had from verse 7 while posting some photos taken on a walk earlier this week? Actually, this pic was shot blind; the sun's reflection kept me from seeing anything in the finder, so I just pressed the shutter.

Well, I guess there were blind folk at the pool of Bethesda (altho' that's not the person in verse 7), so it's kinda related? June...

"The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool;"

The individual may sense his own inability or lacks of human leaders, but that's usually best: it's GOD we need to keep our eyes on. Maybe I hesitate too much before serving, feeling I need some "green light", sign, or open door before stepping out--I want to see the "water troubled".

I remember hearing how some of God's doors say, "PUSH"; or are the kind that open automatically when the sensors catch people walking towards them in faith. God may want us actively obeying, not just sitting around waiting. "Put me into the pool"? Too often we seek the human answer to problems, not guaranteed to work, and sometimes the problems themselves aren't defined properly. 

GOD CARES FOR HIS OWN

It looks like I'm going to end up working backwards on telling this one. Because the first pic is of the cake and card made for Joyce this week--her birthday was on the 10th. The reason it's gonna be backwards is because of the thoughts that came. (No, I didn't have food coloring; that red was made with a cherry drink powder, and grape color turned ash when combined with margarine's yellow.) 

We see Joyce at least once a week because we use the same washer-dryer; that reminds me of how our washing machine began groaning a few months before we moved and shut down completely just a few weeks before we came here to Okinawa.

Our washing machine had given us its life's work. The city had bought it for us brand new when we moved to the Iwatsuki apartment in 2012. Because of road construction, all residents were requested to leave, and cooperation was financed: new appliances (which meant for us, a washer-dryer and 3 air conditioners) were purchased, and 3 months' rent was paid! (This is a pic of the empty plot of land after the building was torn down!)

There would've been no other way we could've made the move. I need to back up a little more: our family had just moved down from Koriyama after having fled the 2011 Quake with nothing but what we had in our backpacks; while others may speak of not having enough to afford what they need; we had only what was handed us. And God had given us a roof over our heads with the entire family intact, schooling for the children, bicycles (two of them!),...and I almost forgot to mention: Joyce was there in Iwatsuki at the time!

We'd had to move for a reason other than that city construction. Altho' church was about 15 mins.' walk away, Joyce had picked us up by car to take us to church most weeks. Right after she left for the U.S. for furlo' however, the church moved clear across to the other side of the city! There was no public transportation there, and it would take over half an hour walking one way. This is when God stepped in and let the government pay for our move to a home near the church's new location, with a brand new washer-dryer, three AC's, plus 3 months' rent!

So altho' it was Joyce's birthday, I couldn't stop my thoughts from flying in all these directions and marveling: we have a powerful, wealthy, loving Heavenly Father!

DEAD GRASS

Pastor Yoshitaka Ishikawa, because of our Dad's friendship with his family, has watched over us like his own little sisters, always checking on our electricity, plumbing needs, etc. We so thank God for Him.

The other day, he noticed the area near the stairs looked like a rainforest and came with his sickle and cut it all down for us--yes!

The cut grass served another purpose for a furry neighbor.

Later on in the week, I looked down in the yard and saw a stray cat had found the dry grass purrfect bedding after a recent deluge.

"Just dead stuff?" Maybe. But in God's Hands, it may be the PERFECT source of comfort for some exhausted soul!

All I know is, there's one kitty nearby that likes Yoshitaka.

COULDN'T BELIEVE IT

Hang on! I want to tell you about the past few days.

Recently, I'd been thinking of doing my Japanese blog posts first then doing English re-working/translations of them; but today's will be done here first. There's too much that needs to be said...I think it needs to be said sloppily, and that's gotta be done in English (I don't know how to even write properly in Japanese yet!)

I told you we'd asked God to fill in our calendar for Janice's short visit to Okinawa. She left Thurs., and I can tell you, God did it all!

Remember our cousin Rumiko whose husband died suddenly who we went to live with on the island of Izena where she and her husband helped with pioneer work? She and two friends came to visit one of the first days I was gone with my husband, wanting to see some unsaved family nearby.

We didn't know about these ladies so would have had no way of scheduling them in our plans--but God did! He arranged a wonderful time of fellowship, prayer, and witness, plus a room to lie down and rest.

"I was so tired from running around with Kimi and Ellis (daughter and son-in-law) and thought I just wanted to rest and do nothing;" Janice said. "but God had better plans. What a blessing!"

On another day, the person who met Janice at the airport came with disabled siblings mentioned in a previous blog. Janice befriended them as children but they are now in their 30's and 40's, so we still refer to them as "the Nakamatsu Kids". They went to a Christian bookstore on the southern end of the island, where the store manager is the pastor's son of a church for the hearing-impaired Joyce and Janice helped out at. 

I couldn't believe this last one. I've told you repeatedly how the cousin who gave the land on which our house is built was given by relatives living 2 mins. away. One of the last days of Janice's time in Okinawa, the Lord directed a visit with Kazue. Well, my scripture memory right now is "it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter." (Rev. 10:10).

Not only did Kazue agree to continue Bible studies after today's visit; before going home, she presented us with some gifts: three small jars of BITTERSWEET HONEY! No kidding!

The little monkey? Monchichi was the fad when we were teenagers and seems to be coming back. Joyce couldn't resist picking up some darling mascots she found, especially when one of them wore a ladybug costume, and ladybugs are one of her favorites.

You think that's just silly? Well, that's the way sisters are when they get together.

A POEM I WROTE (Feb. 16, 2011)

I recently found this among letters to my Dad. It was in response to what I'd read in Ephe. 1:3-14, so if you were expecting something romantic or merely sentimental, that's not what this is. If you want to read along in your Bibles tho', you might get an idea of what I was trying to say. Here's this poem along with some photos from yesterday's walk with my sister Janice down the river next to the house:

EPHESIANS 1:3-14

1. Father, questions tempt to vex us;

    Gird our minds with thoughts above.

    E'en before the world was formed

    Thou our God, chose us in love!

Refrain:

    Words cannot our awe express; no

    Puzzle e'er would Thee amaze.

    Thou designed, we but possess. To

    Thy blest glory be all praise!

2. Silence all that mock Thy power,

    Care for our timidity.

    Paradise Thou wilt restore that

    We would walk and talk with Thee!

3. Lord, because Thy blood Thou gave,

    Sins forgiven, now we dare--

    Even though Thou very God art--

     Art called Brother, fellow-Heir!

4. Holy Spirit, Christian's Seal,

    Without Thy fire, no hope have we.

    Flood my heart with light and praise:

    Foretastes of eternity!

(Less than a month after I'd sent this poem, that earthquake hit--Mar. 11, 2011. But I'm sure the Creator of the Universe was not dismayed.)

LONG WALK BACK

We walked all the way to the American Village today. It would be a long walk back, but remembering yesterday's wildlife, I grabbed my compact camera and headed for the seawall, expecting some real good pictures.

But I'd forgotten to figure in the tide for the birds who could nest on the boulders coming out of the water only then. Needless to say, I didn't see a single Cormorant today. But I did see Two Osprey. Well, they were helicopter-airplane Osprey, carrying Air Force personnel to their respective bases.

And no black heron came today either. I photographed One Egret tiptoeing on the north part of the seawall. After seeing all those birds yesterday, it was a big disappointment to get so little response today--and I had my camera too!

But as I was looking through my pictures, I realized I'd been so caught up in not seeing the birds, I hadn't seen how beautiful the ocean was...their very backdrop. It made me wonder how often I commiserate on my difficulties and don't realize how I possess ideal conditions that allow the existence of those problems.

"In EVERYTHING give thanks for this is the will of God", scripture says.

COFFER A LOT

"Hey; there's an egret!...I can't believe it...a wild cormorant...a black heron!" There was so much as we walked near the seawall. I wanted to kick myself for not bringing my sketching equipment, at least my camera to snap pictures of these things so I could draw them in detail later.

Oh well; at least today we could walk to all the way to the tourist center nearby, get our bellies filled with some good Okinawan cuisine. We had all day tomorrow and Wed. to sketch and photograph the amazing wildlife I knew I'd missed today.

But...the CLOSER we got to our destination, the more we'd have to walk, we realized. The original directions we'd been given were skimpy, unreliable. Hm; it was getting dark. We didn't know this area; it seemed best to turn back and try the eateries and shops when it got light again.

Kinya and I felt thankful to see a supermarket up ahead and picked up simple bentos for our evening meal, then headed home. After a nice, quiet meal with simple conversation, we Kinya enjoyed some cafe au lait while listening to some of my most recent Japanese blog posts. 

Kinya took a nice, hot shower and then climbed into bed. If he's anything like me, I think his body is tuckered out from today's escapade half way down the coast...and back. But while he was drifting off into dreamland, I was marveling at how much of my posts--actually, even things I knew weren't mentioned in them--had to do with Kinya.

Lord, let all your children realize and awe in how much WE occupy YOUR thoughts!

"How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!" (Ps. 139:17)

...Leaning on the Everlasting Arms...♪

"It's been so long," I found myself thinking, bounding to the front door when my sister came. Wait. She was here for Christmas 2024, and I was in her Stateside apartment later that year too, so it hasn't been that long. Why did it feel like it's been forever?

This time, when my sister Janice came, it was with her daughter Kimi and son-in-law Ellis. Janice's friend was to come over with her larger car to pick them up (and their luggage) at the airport. After worship service Sunday, they came to the house to say hello to Kinya and Keima.

Kimi and Keima have met before. I have an enlarged, framed photo of my 2 kids and Janice's 5 kids when they met the summer of 2006 here in Okinawa. Altho' my children couldn't speak English, and their American cousins spoke no Japanese, the 7 kids somehow really hit it off and became fast friends.

Kimi and Keima were only 10 years old then. It's been 20 years since... I thot it would be another 20 years before I'd be needing a push cart for the elderly. But after my fall last year causing my knee injury, then hurting my back last month, Kinya purchased one of these for me, and I found myself elated.

I suppose some people don't want to "lean on" anything, want to show they're strong enough to stand on their own. I'm very happy to admit I do not have the strength I need and then to rely on the support of that which is FOREVER FAITHFUL AND STRONG!

(About the way God has already begun "filling in" our calendar: It seems Joyce was needed at a believer's funeral; Janice has been spending time running around with her daughter and son-in-law; and I will be spending time with my husband!)

FILL IT UP, LORD...

Two years away seemed like such a long time to wait, but it was right on top of us!

The last time my sisters and I were together for Christmas, in 2024, it was such a blessed time. One of my favorite memories of those few weeks was when my husband and son were invited downstairs to my sister's apartment for dinner both on Christmas eve and then on Christmas. We had such a good time. I've rarely seen Kinya and Keima letting themselves relax and just enjoy themselves as they did those two nights. And when Janice left to go back to the U.S., it seemed it would be an eternity before she would be back and we'd be able to see her again.

But SHE'S BACK! The night of the 20th, I got to say "GLAD TO SEE YOO JANNEE!" Altho' it's just for a short visit this time--just two weeks; we know God will bless this visit too.

The last time, we carefully planned visits with various relatives during her 3-week stay, and then thought out other activities. This time, we pretty much left the calendar open, asking God to fill it with appointments of His choosing. Would you pray with us that He would show us His Holy Spirit can do exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think?

"The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord"

"One step forward, two steps back...another step to the right and down a notch...hey, what's this pillar?" 

It feels like that's what the Christian senses in any kind of obedient walk with God: full of obstacles, detours, and seeming disappointments.

Recently, I was elated when a friend from over 30 years ago said she wanted to come see me in Okinawa. Her husband had come to know the Lord just before he died of cancer, and her two children were both saved--one got married to an ANA cabin attendant who would enable her to fly down to Okinawa. ONE HUGE LEAP FORWARD!

But the dates my friend wanted to come, flights got filled. Those freebies were offered space available only, so she wouldn't be able to come. And there was a mixup with the ride to pick up my friend at the airport. TWO STEPS BACK.

"Kinya, would you be interested in staying at a hotel the 23rd~25th?" I ventured. It wasn't anything fancy, but nice, quiet. Kinya usually feels going out is a bother and would rather not leave his computer setup, but maybe he saw my DISAPPOINTMENTS: not being able to see a good friend, having an empty lodging on my hands; and not wanting to see me disappointed again, decided it wouldn't hurt to take a few days away from his digital workshop and spend some time with June...so he agreed to come! Thank you Kinya, and Thank YOU Father!

NOT A CERTAIN WAY

In Japan, the girls give chocolates to the fellas for Valentines, not the other way around. I'd looked for a box with a kitty chocolate in mine--the Saito men love cats--the one I found had a nice sprinkle of gold in the boxed background that made it kinda classy but not gaudy...I was so happy I gave it on JANUARY 14! Oh no; a month early!

I realize now God knew, back in January, I'd be hurting my back in such a way I wouldn't be in any condition before Valentines Day to sit in a car and get out to the shopping center where Valentine chocolate sets were sold; He'd nudged me to get them early. But...I still wanted to get SOMETHING for Valentines Day in February too! I decided to try walking to the nearby store to at least buy a box of nice chocolates.

Kinya thought I was just going out for a stroll and offered to come along. When we crossed the river on the way to the store, he was surprised to see, not one bright kingfisher gracing us with a visit, but THREE! It was as if they KNEW this was a special trek being made for Valentines' Day, because this included a female bird--can you see the bottom beak is red--rarely sited. "Get something good," seemed to be their well-wishing.

Yeah; I thought to myself. God never has to take treks to the store to pick up delightful treats like this for His family! Thank You, Lord!

I'd decided not to try the grocery store and stopped at the nearest convenience store instead. Altho' I pointed to the most expensive chocolates at the bottom and told Kinya he could choose whatever he wanted, he said he wanted one of the cheaper chocolate bars on the hooks above it. Really? Really. I ended up getting him TWO of those little ones. On the way home, I thot I'd complain about Kinya's choice to an eel I saw in the river...it didn't look dark brown, but more tannish.

I forgot what I was going to say. Some people prefer dark chocolate. Others white chocolate. Some boxed chocolate. Others chocolate bars.

And you really can be happy with whatever it is God gives you even if it seems you got it at the wrong time. It doesn't have to be a certain way.

White ribbon design, red petals...Little Valentines!

 Time for another "Photo Story". Here's a short, 6-photo one:

1 Bright Hibiscus near bridge, 2 Sakura on shortcut path.

3 G-hopper - these won't interest June. 4 But Ma Web knows where to find

5 June's favorite flower, 6 The dainty SPIDER HIBISCUS!

💗HAPPY VALENTINES🙏

(I know it's been commercialized, but...

May God's richest blessings of love be with you today anyway!)