Duck & the Future

Yesterday
Going back to class was interesting. I feel as though I lost some time, ability, and energy, not studying for about a week. In the second class, I was the only student. So I struggled through the lesson, but had complete focus on me. At the end, I was thankful for the class and thankful it was over.

We had dinner with an exploratory group from Lipscomb at the famous Peking Duck restaurant:
Quan Ju De
Chaoyang
Area: Shuangjing (Inner E 3rd Ring Rd)
8 Guangqumen Outer. St, U-Space

58612288, 4007001864
Chinese only: www.quanjude.com.cn

This was to establish some understanding of what we do and what they are intending to do when they bring a group of students in late May.

On the way there and on the way home I tried to give a Bible to the taxi drivers, both said no thanks. These were the first two to refuse this gift.

Acts 25-28
The last section of Acts reads like a history book more than the Bible, yet Paul continues to heal and bless all those he is able. The Jews in Rome don't want anything to do with Jesus either.

Power of a Praying Husband - Future
Praying for Jaime to increasingly place her trust in God, knowing that he holds her heart, future, and everything in his hand. We can only truly rely on God for safety, health, and all that the future holds.

Prayer
Lord, bless Jaime and I with increasingly convicted hearts to trust you in every area of our lives; to know that you are our safety, security, and salvation! God thank you for blessing us with each other. Help us to put away all others, the memory of past relationships that invade our hearts and are being used by the devil to erode faith in one another and faith in you. Give us your blessings of joy, grace, and mercy towards one another so that we can honor you in our relationship as a witness for you.

Obedience Brings Joy!

Yesterday
In our travels from Shiyan to Beijing we were blessed to share the Word with about 12 people. We gave 10 Bibles marked with Genesis, Proverbs, and Matthew 5-7. Then we talked with them about who we are, what it means, and they asked some questions as well. Ding, a man of about 60 that is fluent in 5 languages, was happy to translate for us. One man finished reading Genesis before getting off the train. A woman wouldn't stop staring at us as Jaime and I were reading "I Married You, Not Your Family". She didn't understand, but had the typical foreigner curiosity look, but she had heard all that we were saying to the others. We gave her a Bible marked with Matthew 22 and 1 Corinthians 13, explaining the meaning of each as best we could. She read them and a little of some other things, then went back to staring at us.

A believing woman had prayed she would meet other Christians on the train. She has only been believing for a year, is not highly educated, and was very nervous. She wanted us to explain the deeper meanings of the Old Testament and the entire Bible in a few simple words. We mentioned the overall meaning - the OT is saying that Jesus will come, the NT is saying that Jesus has come; God is showing us how to be more loving, faithful, and forgiving throughout the Bible; and this all wasn't good enough. So I went on to describe the major themes of the sections in the Bible. She nearly ran away at this. My new translator friend said she was nervous, so I went to where she was and calmed her... telling her my story and giving her my email, phone number, and such. She was happy, thankful, and said she will get in touch with us later.

On the taxi ride home we talked with the driver, he said he might have free time on Sundays (sometimes he drives, sometimes he doesn't). So we invited him to our meeting. He seemed to be very interested and kept repeating the time of our meeting.

When we finally got home... we unpacked, showered, went online, and got some pizza.

Acts 12-24
I want to finish reading Acts before the New Year, so I read a lot on the train (even though it is so difficult to focus). These passages again talk about how quickly the people of this world turn from idol worship to worshipping men to wanting to kill them. People are easily set off, especially when there are large numbers. Group think can be very dangerous, it is more Mob Mentality. Paul was such a determined man, faithful even in the face of death. He was able to go from being stoned and beaten to quieting the crowd and commanding their attention... only to set them off again as they were disturbed by the message of Truth. I pray I can speak as boldly, as faithfully, and encourage others to do the same. (I do not pray for the same level of persecution for me or anyone!)

Power of a Praying Husband - Obedience
There is awesome joy in doing good! Obeying God provides blessings of confidence, increasing maturity, joy, greater meaning and purpose in life, great satisfaction, increasing understanding of the Spirit, and on and on the list could go.

Being obedient in actions, words, and thoughts is a daily challenge, a daily exercise of the will, mind, and emotions. It reminds me of the song "Be Careful Little Eyes" - the song could add a verse "be careful little heart what you feel," and another "be careful little mind what you think."

Prayer
God grant us the desire to be obedient in every way. God gives us the joy and many other blessings that go along with obeying your will for our lives. Guard our hearts and minds, discipline us to be faithful to you in our thinking, emotions, words, and actions.

Thank you Lord for being able to share your Word with so many on the train to Shiyan and returning to Beijing. God we pray that you will water those seeds, help them to grow, and bring them to a great harvest!

2008-12-27

Yesterday
We ate Re Gan Mian "Hot Dry Noodles" - which we both missed, but found to be more spicy than we remembered. Then again, everything we have eaten here is spicier than we remembered. Beijing food is just not as spicy and we are thankful. My stomach has been a little bothered by all this spice. I look forward to returning to Beijing's food.

We ate lunch at Happy Guy's with Barry, Trip, Trent, Jessica, and Angelyn. Happy Guy remodeled the "Eve" room, moved the door to the inside of the restaurant and blocked off the hole in the wall former covered by a nearly naked lady. It was good to go over to that side of town, talk with our friends, and visit their homes.

Jaime went to the orphanage with Trent & Jessica, and some of her students. Jaime was being kicked and punched by a child. She got the little boy to leave her alone and then as she was helping another child up, the boy threw a block at her head. She got a big bump on the side of her eye, the right eye. Now she has a bruise from a blood vessel bursting on her left eye and this bump and a little bruise on her right eye.

I came back to the school to try to resolve the issue with our things being stolen over the summer. Didn't really get anywhere. We are considering extending our stay another day so we can present the president with a letter of our concerns.

Acts 8-11
After Stephen is stoned, the persecution begins and the Christians go everywhere preaching and teaching about the power of Jesus. First to the Jews only, then to the Greeks and other Gentiles. Peter has his vision and "all" the Christians are welcoming non-Jews into God's family. I say "all" because there continue to be problems with Jews and non-Jews throughout Acts and the other letters Paul wrote.

Power of a Praying Husband - Deliverance
Deliverance from the past, addictions - strong and mild, bad dreams, depression, and all sorts of things. These struggles can truly hinder growing faith. They need to be addressed with prayer so that God can step into the heart and begin the healing process. Stormie describes this healing process as a birthing process that must be allowed to finish the gestation period so that the full deliverance can be accomplished.

Recently, I have been experiencing release from my past. In focusing on God, praying for Jaime and myself more purposefully, reading the Word, and sharing his love, I have now been able to stop bad dreams. In the midst of the dream, I am able to recognize them as terror, temptation, or testing and can take control of the situation and ask for God's forgiveness, blessing, or power to overcome the experience and be freed from the torturous time!

Prayer
God, I pray that you continue to work in our lives to set us free from the sins which keep us from increasing in our faith in you. I pray that you give us the awareness of your blessing, power, and the tools you have placed in our hands to overcome the Devil. Lord, bind Satan and allow your power to reign in our lives so that we may be transformed to transform others. Bless us with deliverance from our past, sin, temptations, addictions (whether strong or mild), and allow us to know you more, to love you more, to serve you more!

2008-12-26

Yesterday
We started out the day with trying to get back some things that were taken from our old apartment. Someone came into the apartment in the summer and took stuff that we had intended to give to our school's new teachers. We were quite frustrated with this, as we did what we were told, we made a list and gave it to the appropriate people. Apparently it became a shopping list.

Ms. Bai came over after I sent her a message that some things needed repairing or replacing in our old apartment, then I told her all that was missing.

We then walked over to John & Megan's apartment for some brunchy breakfast, movies, stocking exchange, and Settlers of Catan. It was a fun time for all.

We walked back to Zhi Zhou Wei to have dinner with Alex Wang. Then back to our apartment where a few old friends and students dropped in.

We went to bed around 9:30pm. Kelly (Jaime's sis) called around midnight. Diane was there and I think Joe was too. They talked for a while as I dozed in and out. My brother John called sometime around 5 or 6 am, it was dark, there were no watches or clocks nearby. He'll call back sometime when we are awake.

Acts 4-7
The early church was fabulously bold. They spoke out with passion, while doing acts of compassion. They preached to the religious leaders of the day, the opposition that wanted to kill them (and did at times), and definitely flogged the followers of Jesus. To speak out for the truth when others agree is simple, joyful, and without much risk. To speak out when many oppose the truth and are willing to harm others to protect their position, power, and prestige, that is altogether different.

Today in America there are many who oppose the truth. They want to remove God from all areas of life, relegate the truth to the privacy of your own personal closet. These folks are suggesting that it even be illegal to teach your children the truth. I find this to be just crazy. It is a little too much like the place I am now living. America is the land of the free. Here in the Middle Kingdom one is not allowed to teach another the Gospel until their above the age of 18. Is America going to so deny the creator, are people of faith going to surrender their God given duty to teach their children the truth, that we cannot proclaim the message to our own children? It is possible for this to happen... in one or two lifetimes.

Now there is increasing weakening in morality, many believers are continuing to loosen the foundation of faith. Many people are dismissing (a little at a time) the truths presented in God's Word, when they should be boldly proclaiming the Word of God.

Power of a Praying Husband - Work
Praying for God's blessings to abound in Jaime's work, compensation, devotion to family, and God's continuing revelation of Jaime's developing talents and abilities. May God guard her heart against pride and competition, may God be glorified in all that she does!

Prayer
God bless this world to know you. Bless your workers to have greater boldness in sharing the Gospel no matter their culture, comfort, or critics.

2008-12-25

Yesterday
I didn't read or pray, we were on the train coming to Shiyan. It wasn't convenient (that is sad). I should have been more disciplined. I had the time.

Now we are here and have no Internet connection. I am praying the school will gladly restore the Brelands Internet connections or Brad will allow us to share his for a few days.

Our travels were fabulous! We made friends with the taxi driver that brought us to the train station in Beijing, gave him a Bible, and invited him to church. He works six days a week, 13 hours a day, taking Sundays off. I asked if he had time to come to our meeting, he said he did, and would attend the next Sunday.

Then on the train, we met a couple married for just four days. The husband is Islamic, the wife has no faith, but the husband says she is now Islamic too. We gave them a Bible marked with Proverbs, Matthew 5-7, Ephesians 5 (which they read right away), and a section on how to become a Christian.

We marked 7 Bibles with Proverbs, Matthew 5-7, and how to become a Christian. We gave them to the above mentioned people, a total of 5 people on the train.

Meeting us at the train station were Brad Forgy and Alex Wang, they are the faithful greeters of Shiyan. We went to our old home to find the TV has been missing for a month, being repaired, but otherwise the apartment was mostly as we left it (of course, minus a lot of stuff we gave to the new teachers).

We ate dinner at Brad & Min's... there were supposed to be other teachers too, but they all had something else to do. Min cooked a lot of food and was pretty sad that people didn't show up and stick around to eat.

We then went Christmas Caroling around campus. We met up with old students and made some new friends along the way.

John 21 - Acts 3
John does not include the "let this cup pass" prayer of Jesus, instead he has very lengthy prayers about the glory of God, unity of the disciples and all believers, and God's blessing and protection for Jesus' disciples. Why?

Power of a Praying Husband - Desires
Hobbies and interests are important for a marriage. If a couple has similar interests then they will spend more time together, if they are increasingly interested in he same things, then they are growing together.

Prayer
I am praying for our desires to be God's desires for us. We need to put his desires first in our lives, then we can grow in his blessings.

In Shiyan

I am in Shiyan, there is no internet connection in my home. I will be posting when I return to Beijing or when they let me have internet in my old house.

Protection and Health

Yesterday
Sunday night, Jaime was rubbing her eye because it itched. Then a reddish bubble quickly appeared just below her left eye. Monday morning she went to the local clinic. It turned out to be a blood vessel that ruptured, now it has dissipated but it looks like she has a black eye.

Team meeting was just me and the Jacksons. Jaime was worn out from our very busy weekend and having a stomach bug didn't help. The Rodriguez family stayed home, Marcus had a presentation to prepare and they will have their big Christmas party on Wednesday night. We talked and prayed about our growing fellowship, the availability of the Christmas meeting place, and many other possibilities.

Jessi flew in from Danjiangkou, Xiangfan airport, arriving at midnight. We talked till about 1am. I was falling asleep well before that, around 8:30 in fact.

John 17-20
These verses stood out today:

John 16:33, I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

John 17:11, I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one.

John 17:20-21, My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

John 17:25-26, Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.

In chapter 18, Jesus doesn't heal the high priest's servant.

John knew the high priest quite well and the servant girl at the door is the first to question Peter.

John 18:15-17, Simon Peter and another disciple were following Jesus. Because this disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the high priest's courtyard, but Peter had to wait outside at the door. The other disciple, who was known to the high priest, came back, spoke to the girl on duty there and brought Peter in.

"You are not one of his disciples, are you?" the girl at the door asked Peter. He replied, "I am not."

John 18:28-29 - The Jews wanted to eat the Passover so they wouldn't go into Pilate's house.

Jesus is questioned by Pilate, but check out his answers and the response of Pilate:

John 18:33-40, Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?"

"Is that your own idea," Jesus asked, "or did others talk to you about me?"

"Am I a Jew?" Pilate replied. "It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?"

Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place."

"You are a king, then!" said Pilate.

Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."

"What is truth?" Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, "I find no basis for a charge against him. But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release 'the king of the Jews'?"

They shouted back, "No, not him! Give us Barabbas!" Now Barabbas had taken part in a rebellion.

How does Pilate decide to have Jesus flogged? Then He goes back to him...

John 19:8-14, When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, 9and he went back inside the palace. "Where do you come from?" he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10"Do you refuse to speak to me?" Pilate said. "Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?"

Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin."

From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jews kept shouting, "If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.

When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge's seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha). It was the day of Preparation of Passover Week, about the sixth hour.

"Here is your king," Pilate said to the Jews.

Joseph and Nicodemus bring 70 pounds of spices to prepare the body of Jesus... Then Mary comes on Sunday with even more!

Power of a Praying Husband - Protection
God is the one that keeps us safe. We must always pray for God's protection and live like we are safely under his wing, but that doesn't allow us to live recklessly. Car insurance rates are higher for preachers than teachers because they drive more wildly than others and get in more crashes apparently... is it saying something about their personality or about their belief of God's protection? Either way, we all need to live in his protection without abusing it, the same as we do with his grace. Grace motivates us to live a more perfect life, protection should motivate us to live a more responsible life.

This chapter also talks about praying for Jaime's health. Stormie compares wives to cars... they need to keep their body tuned up, clean, well exercised, and ready to run.

Praying for Jaime's protection and health are vital to her continuously living in God's richest blessings.

Prayer
God help us to be ready on all occasions for responsible and healthy lifestyles. Protect us from harm in all situations, especially spiritual temptations and plots of Satan to destroy our relationship with you and one another. Keep us safe and healthy no matter where we are, so that we may have more opportunity to love and serve others with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Jesus Believes in Me and You, Trust Him!

Yesterday
Our Christmas party was fabulous! We had over 100 people there... don't know the exact number yet. Our English Corner connections brought many people! We will for sure continue that ministry as soon as the weather permits. I posted on the other blog about the party:

The Christmas Party was great! I juggled... it was a lot of fun. There was a professional violinist, another musician was 15 yrs. old - she played an ancient Chinese "guitar", then there was a couple of singers, but the most precious were the kids from the orphanage. There were tiny, some of them only 4 and up to 6, they did two little dance numbers to Chinese praise songs.

Worship was great too! We had so many blessings from God throughout this day... I'm sure I'll remember this for the rest of my life. One day I'll finally be able to talk with some of my Chinese friends about it too.

I worked out a little routine using a Jewish blessing, three Chinese idioms (chengyu - 4 word phrases that are constantly used), and juggling.
"May you be covered in the dust of your Rabbi!" This is stating the idea that your Rabbi chooses you because he thinks you will be able to do what he can do. You can become like him. As you follow him each day, you are becoming increasingly like him. So, being covered in his dust means you are a great disciple and will one day be just like your Rabbi.
看破红尘 (kàn pò hóng chén), is a Buddhist expression that means something terrible has happened, and so you want to become a monk and run away from the world... it is a negative idea. "See through the emptiness of the material world" is a more literal translation.
与世无争 (yú shì wú zhēng), is a synonym of the one above. It is literally, "hold oneself aloof from worldly success", but it is saying that a person removes themselves from pain, sorrow, success, and all worldly connectedness. It seems to be going towards a Nirvana concept.
步人后尘 (bù rén hòu chén), to blindly follow in somebody's footsteps. More literally, to be covered in the dust of the person you follow.
徒 (tú), a disciple. The character has two people to the left side and dust on top of a foot. The connection between all of these is interesting, but needs explanation to the Chinese.

We are to embrace the sorrows, elations, failures, and success of this world... to learn from them and become more sensitive to the needs of others as we become more like Jesus. There is one and only one person that we should hold up as a great and awesome role model, as a person we can follow blindly, that is Jesus Christ the Lord. We are to be his disciples.

I taught them how to juggle, something most didn't know how to do. There were a few people that had learned as children. One lady had never juggled before, but in 5 minutes she was able to do three and catch for four or five times! She was able to correct her mistakes quickly... amazing muscle memory! She could do 5 balls within a month or two if she wanted.

I taught them to juggle, because it is a small example of the limitations we place on ourselves. We admire others for their abilities, but think we could never do the same thing. It helps when the teacher chooses you and believes you can do it!

Juggling takes less than an hour to learn, 10-15 minutes a day of practice and you can become quite gifted (according to your friends) in a week. Give it a year and you will see amazing results... what if we had the same notion with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control?

Jesus believes in us and thinks we can become like him! God and Jesus believe in us! This amazes me. Jesus even says we will do greater things than he did - John 14:12.

Our cookie ministry... well, that was originated by Marcus & Julia. We just borrowed the concept, made our own label, and decided we would try to give cookies to the entire building. 300 floors, 12 rooms each, but maybe 1/3 aren't occupied or weren't home, 1/3 took the cookies without much interest, 1/6 refused, and another 1/6 invited us in.

The first night (Saturday) Jaime went with one group of girls from the orphanage and Sunni, while I went Nikki and the other group of girls from the orphanage, we did 22-13. Last night, Jaime and Nikki rolled out the sugar cookies we didn't get to finish making. Jaime baked them and washed the dishes, while Nikki and I went to the 30th floor and worked our down to the 23rd. Nikki is a fabulous evangelist! She gets really excited about sharing with others and is constantly upbeat.

We almost finished the 23rd floor, when we ran out of cookies. We came back home, decorated the sugar cookies, made some more bags up, and went back out.

Just before we went out the first time, our lovely Nainai (grandmother) next door came over with warm chestnuts and required us to eat them! She pealed them, and nearly put them in our mouths. She is wonderful! She is probably 70 years old, but just a delight, full of life!

John 13-16
Jesus believes in us! He blesses us to do greater things than he did. He gives us direct access to the Father's power, the Holy Spirit indwells us, and we are the temple of Jesus! Ask in the name of Jesus, believe that he will provide, and step out in faith to take the actions God desires. Faith is the prerequisite for asking and believing... then there is the matter of action. If all those people Jesus told to, "Get up, take up your mat and go!" hadn't gotten up, they might never have been healed. Jesus commands obedience and provides the power to obey.

Power of a Praying Husband - Trust
Such a vital area in our lives. We need to trust God for everything. He provides, he may use others, but we must know that he is the source of every good thing. In trusting him, we can learn to trust others.

We need to be healed of the times our trust has been broken. We need God to reach in and mend our hearts so that we can trust him fully and trust each other. Trust is the basis of relationships.

Prayer
God grant us healing from our past brokenness, forgive us for breaking trust with you and others. Help us to move into greater levels of trust with you. May we have faith that depends on you completely. May we follow you with full confidence that you will provide all that we need and so much more because you love us! God thank you for your healing and providing! We eagerly anticipate your daily intervention in our lives.

Cookies, Division, and Purpose

Yesterday
Caught up on email, I finally replied to all the emails. I try not to spend too much time each day online, but then I need to catch up on the weekend. I spent a good amount of time yesterday just replying to emails. While doing this, I checked out our new church website: http://www.jiduzhijia.cn/

After much preparation and lots of help from our friends (Nikki, Sunni, and Lin Shan, and five girls from the orphanage), we made a ton of cookies yesterday afternoon and last night. Then we went to the apartments in our building to give them out, starting with our immediate neighbors. We went from the 22nd floor and knocked on every door down to and including the 13th floor. We had so much fun! Each bag had 5 small cookies and this message:

圣诞快乐!

新年快乐!

邱安路 Andrew Hill 先生 (86)15901173497; inspiresme@gmail.com
希珍米 Jaime Hill 太太 (86)15901173498; jaime.myjourney@gmail.com
我们是基督徒。我们住在望京新城418-2203。我们给您这个礼物因为耶稣给我们他在十字架上的生命。我们为您祷告，上帝给您爱，给您平安，很多祝福。如果您有圣经的问题或者想学习英语，我们家每星期三晚上七点有英文的圣经学习小组。我们还在同一时间有全中文的圣经学习小组。

It says:

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year!

Chinese name, English name, Husband/Wife; mobile phone, email address
We are Christians. We live at 418-2203 Wangjing Xincheng. We give you this gift because Jesus gave his life for us on the cross. We pray that God gives you love, peace, and many blessings. If you have any questions about Christianity or English, we have an English small group Bible study in our home every Wednesday night at 7. At the same time, but in another place is another small group meeting in Chinese.

Then we invited them to our Christmas Party that is happening today!

John 9-12
Blind receive sight, dead walk. Jesus is amazing! He kept on for 3 years while people were telling him he was a Samaritan, demon-possessed, crazy, from the devil, and who knows what else. He kept on loving these people, healing them and their friends, and they wanted to kill him. Well, some of them wanted to kill him and some of them wanted to make him king!

I can't help but think the world is still the same. Many people want to get rid of Jesus, take him out of our world, and remove even the hint of his authority over their life, while many are trying to make Jesus king of their world.

Jesus needs to be king of my life! The more people make Jesus the king of their life, the more Jesus is king of this world. We can't have Jesus as king of the world, if he isn't first the king of each individual's life.

Power of a Praying Husband - Purpose
Purpose is so powerful. When I realized and accepted my purpose, what God wanted me to do here on earth, I had so much more energy and excitement about my life. I can't help but think that if more and more people knew their individual God-given purpose for being alive that this world would be so full of good works, the Spirit of God, and as people like to say "positive energy" - that ... I think the world would be more divided. People would know who the Lord of Lords is and still reject him, while others would grow in their faith and love for God and truly know his transforming power. This must be what the great war of Revelation is about, the increasingly divisive nature of Jesus. Some will worship him, while others will attack his worshipers, and of course there are those that will just watch it all happen. I pray many will give cups of cold water and be graciously hospitable to the children of God, that they might grow in faith, love, and trust Jesus completely.

Prayer
God grant Jaime the vision, wisdom, and desire for your purpose to be blatantly clear in her life. God give me the words to encourage your Spirit within her to fan into flames the gifts you have given her. May Jaime be blessed to be a blessing, having increasing sensitivity to how, when, and where you are and will use her.

God's Truth = Love, Power, Self-Control

Yesterday
We had our men's study - which was great! It was all about sharing one's innermost struggles with others and more importantly one's wife. Then I bought train tickets to Shiyan, doing quite well with the Chinese, not needing any help, translator, or really lame pantomime or anything. I have been able to buy tickets for more than a year, but I just noticed how much more I was able to use real words, sentences, and understand the agent!

We went to dinner with the 3 who were recently baptised. It was a great time! We had some good food, good company and it was just enjoyable.

Then we went for a quick shopping run. While waiting for Jaime, I cracked open the tennis balls and started practicing juggling... the cashiers enjoyed it! Then we came home and went to sleep.

John 5-8
Jesus is constantly talking about coming from the Father, claiming to be God, claiming abilities that only God has, and making direct statements that equate him with God... and the Jews call him the lowest thing they can think of, "you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed."

A student will be like his teacher. Jesus said his disciples will do more than Jesus and receive the same treatment from men. I am called to speak the words of God and be prepared for abuse, yet respond as Jesus did. How did Jesus respond? It seems he responded argumentatively throughout this part, still teaching and explaining while being abused. The attackers were actually allowing more people to believe in him because he continued to speak the words of God to the people. All the while, the attacks were increasingly enraged because they weren't able to shut him up. They were losing. They were on the defensive, trying to win the people over, trying to keep their power.

Even while being ridiculed and being treated terribly, I need to be sure to speak the truth in love. Sometimes that can sound like a defensive or offensive statement, but it doesn't need to be ugly. It just needs to be the truth from God that needs to be said at that moment. What is required? Love, faith, and boldness.

Power of a Praying Husband - Fears
The opposite of fear is faith.

God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. - 2 Timothy 1:7

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involved torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. - 1 John 4:18

The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe. - Proverbs 29:25

Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love him. - James 1:12

I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. - Psalm 34:4

Prayer
I pray that you bless Jaime with confidence, boldness, and faith in you to overcome her fears. To know that you will protect her, set her free, and provide for her in every situation. Set her free from everything that weighs her down, that holds her back, that hinders her faith in you and your faith in her. God help Jaime to know that you believe in her and you want her to be increasing in all that is good - love for you and others, humility to serve, boldness to speak the truth-your truth to herself and others (including me), and allow her dreams to be your dreams! God grant Jaime the knowledge of her blessedness to you, me, and others... let her see in meaningful ways how much of blessing you have made her to be. Let her find your acceptance and your power in her life each day so that she can overcome her fears with faith.

Jesus is the Messiah

Yesterday
I was on the Internet too long, too many times, but I can always justify it! :-) I was researching Chinese idioms and juggling tips for the performance on Sunday at the Christmas party. I practiced juggling for quite a while, need to go outside more for the clubs.

I spend a lot of time writing this blog, I need to make better use of my time throughout the day, including this first hour of my day. I have other responsibilities I am not completing or even starting. I haven't been to the gym in more than a week and I need to do more to help Jaime with the kitchen and such.

We had dinner at Felix & Laura's home... they are good cooks. We really enjoyed spending time with them and hope our Chinese improves quickly so we can have better conversations. Their English is quite good, but we really want to talk with them in their own language.

John 1-4
Jesus is surely the Messiah. He says so, John says so, and most people who interact with him pick it up quite easily, then why do so many people deny Jesus is the chosen one of God? I wonder if a majority of people who say they don't believe and don't want to believe simply don't want a Master that asks them to be a sacrifice like he was.

Power of a Praying Husband - Sexuality
God sure says a lot about sex in the Bible. More than most children and many adults are comfortable with. This is such an intimate, important, and highly influential aspect of marriage. What happens outside the bedroom influences everything inside, and vice versa. The purity of marriage is high priority, in thought, word, deed, visual stimulus, and action we must be faithful, forgiving, and forgiven so that our marriage can thrive.

Prayer
Lord, help me make the most of my time, to not waste the precious moments you give me each day.

Beauty in Obedience

Yesterday
Went to Hualian supermarket to buy peanut M&Ms for the Christmas show, bought Jaime a Christmas card and some character practice books, then went to the square to practice juggling the clubs I made.

We had only two at our study last night, but then we will have many on Sunday for the party. I think they decided to exchange the times, choosing Sunday over Wednesday. One had to work overtime, another had a performance. Finishing the study at 8pm, we went to Gary & Danita's for three baptisms. It was a wonderful example of obedience to the Lord and his grace being given... All of them are 45-55 years old, Jack has been a believer for a long time, but didn't obey God concerning baptism. Now we are all brothers and sisters!

A friend from UB, Ray, is saying he no longer believes. God grant him your faith, give him some way to come back to you, to know your love and your presence in his daily life.

Luke 21-24
Luke gives details no other Gospel writer has given. I really have enjoyed Luke's Gospel. These are just parts I noticed and thought were of interest and I will think about them more today: The widow's offering - 21:1-4; Jesus confers the kingdom upon them after they argue about who is the greatest and Peter will deny he knows the Lord - 22:24-32; the disciples were tired from sorrow, they must have understood Jesus would suffer greatly and themselves as well - 22:45; "But from now on, The Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of God." - 22:69; Jesus is the king of the Jews, yet he is rejected and crucified which fits with the Jewish Nation's constant abuses throughout history - 23:1-3; Pilate and Herod become friends as Jesus goes between them, they both admire Jesus, or at least his miracles - 23:8-12; Pilate tries to release Jesus at least three times (both rulers found him innocent) - 23:13-25; Jesus says, "I tell the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." - 23:43; "Joseph, a member of the Council... who had not consented to their decision and action." 23:50-51; The entire section of the road to Emmaus - especially wishing I could have heard Jesus explain all the prophecies concerning himself! - 23:13-35; Jesus has open piercings, wounds, or did the wounds heal with scars? - 23:39.

Power of a Praying Husband - Her Beauty
Jaime is a beautiful woman. God says so, I say so, and she needs to believe it. God's beauty is increasingly apparent in her and that makes her even more beautiful. Proverbs 31:30, "Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord shall be praised." I don't doubt that she will be praised for her beauty... because a woman who follows God with her whole heart will be beautiful from within due to the Spirit of God increasingly transforming her heart. Then her physical appearance will also improve, because she will have the joy of the Lord that comes from obedience and healthy living. This kind of woman is not mastered by others, but the Lord is her master, so her reliance on him is attractive (appearing as independence and not appearing as needy as others - though she still wants and desires love, appreciation, and such from others). He confidence comes from the Lord of Lords and cannot be taken away, his grace supplies her with all the courage, motivation, and discipline she needs to be a woman of God.

Prayer
God help me to bless Jaime in words and actions to be more and more beautiful in your presence. May she know you more and may our love for you increase. Give us hearts for you and for serving one another. Let us be shaped by the life of Jesus to live sacrificially each day, giving to you, each other, and our neighbors. God grant us your presence so that our feet can be beautiful, let us share your love with our next door neighbor and the one half way around the world.

Priorities

Yesterday
Staples in China... doesn't have American stuff because it is too expensive. China might make most of the stuff for America, but it is for export, not allowed to be consumed here. Therefore to import this former export becomes very costly. I just wanted some really nice little Sharpies or these Sharpies, I could keep going all day. I went to the office nearby, got a catalog, found out they don't have a full on store, and their express store is all the way across town.

We had dinner with our teachers... we took them to our favorite dumpling restaurant, the entire meal was a Chinese lesson. Teacher Bai and Teacher Li are wonderfully positive, helpful, and constantly correcting grammar, pronunciation, and everything else. We had a great time, but it wore us out.

Luke 17-20
The Parable of the Ten Minas. Jesus is king, but many are trying to dethrone him, or deny his existence. These people will have a difficult time when the Lord returns. Those who are recognizing his kingship have been given gifts of stewardship. The question presented to us, "What are you doing with the Lord's stuff?" I must use the gifts of God in the service of God, but also remember to enjoy the blessing myself (Luke 15). God didn't bless me so I could be a grouch and bemoan blessing others. He blessed me so that I could enjoy his blessing and show others how to enjoy living in his blessing while sharing it with others.

Power of a Praying Husband - Priorities
We all need to order our lives appropriately. In reading this chapter, I can see how the priorities and "obligations" of a wife are put on trial. Every woman that I have talked with says they fear what others think about them... much more than men do. This judgment in the court of public opinion needs to be turned off, but how? I used to feel judged by everyone, then I decided to set it aside, to only please God. I constantly pray that God will remove worry over others opinions from my decision making process and that God will be the chief reason for my actions (public & private). When God comes first, the outcome should be a loving, compassionate blessing for all. If it isn't, then God probably didn't come first (daily life, not judgment day - of which I have no control).

Prayer
Thank you Lord for giving us your Word which blesses us as we set priorities, which in turn bless our daily life with order and enjoyment. God gives us hearts to enjoy your blessings, to share your blessings, and to increase the blessings you have bestowed!

Yesterday
We had our team meeting. We had a good time sharing stories and praying together. Jaime and I gave framed pictures of our team and a tin of cookies.

Gary and I found Staples, the office supply store in a taxi, most of the time seemed to be spent sitting and telling the driver where we wanted to go. He had never been to the address and didn't really know the area. It is maybe twenty minutes by bicycle. They lack a real store, but have a warehouse, are open 9-5:30, and everything can be ordered from catalogs.

Luke 13-16
Did Jesus heal on every Sabbath? Why didn't the Pharisees get that Jesus was going to continue setting people free? They thought he is doing something horrible, but he consistently reminded them of how kind they are to their animals. People are so much more important than animals. Why didn't they hear? Oh, yeah, they are blind and deaf because they think they see and are wanting to trap Jesus. They don't really care about the truth he is bringing, they don't actually listen for transforming reasons, so they never really understand him or his teaching. They are sensitive to criticism, only because they are more concerned about their image than other people, so they sure know when Jesus is telling a story that applies to them.

The great banquet day is coming and I am prayerfully listening for the voice of Jesus.

Power of a Praying Husband - Her Relationships
Jaime needs relationships that are healthy and holy. Family, friends, and forgiveness play critical roles in everyone's life, especially in women's relationships. They need a few good close friends that aren't negative, critical, or harsh, but positive, blessing, and nurturing.

Prayer
God you know what we need before we ask. Bless us according to your great riches, bless us according to your kind favor, grant us relationships that are increasingly drawing closer to you, healthier, holier, more sensitive to your heart's desire, more willing to love and bless one another. God allow us to be those kinds of friends.

Life is in the Father

Yesterday
We said goodbye to Pauline (Jamaican embassy worker), received clothes for the orphanage from Joana (she'll be going to Taiwan and then Cuba to finish her research), and we put up the Christmas tree! That last one has been waiting patiently for a while. We were going to, meant to, planned to, but finally did it yesterday. Everything but the lights and two Alaskan ornaments are from Ikea.

I also discovered more uses for the indestructible Tyvek material and will go to Staples in 798 to try to purchase the very best and plain mailing envelopes.

Luke 9-12
This is my son whom I have chosen; listen to him. This passage begins a succession of passages about welcoming God, listening to God, and those who are welcomed and listening to God. I am amazed, but it has happened before, to find such interwoven stories all starting from the voice of God speaking to Peter, John, and James. It goes something like this... Pray and God will heal, welcoming children welcomes God, rejection of Jesus is no reason to immediately condemn people to Hell, listening to Jesus brings great challenges (no earthly home, rejection of this world's model for respect and honor), shaking of dust is a warning-not instantaneous condemnation, listen and accept Jesus from earthly teachers... which leads to The Good Samaritan, Mary & Martha, The Visitor at Midnight. And reaching back again, Jesus shows the object we should be listening for, welcoming of, and wanting is the Holy Spirit. Interweaving yet again... Jesus isn't dividing his kingdom, he is drawing all believers to himself, those that hear the word of God and obey it are blessed! Open the word of God to others, allow as many as possible to come in, do not hinder them (11:52)

Jesus has a major theme: life is in the Father. Listening, welcoming, and following Jesus all draw one closer to the root of everything, God the Father. So I suppose this theme can easily be found throughout the teachings of Jesus.

Power of a Praying Husband - Submission
Submitting is something one does, not something one takes. Submitting is voluntary. I need to submit to God, Jaime needs to submit to God, then we need to serve one another in proper submission. Matthew 10:39, Romans 12:16.

Prayer
Thank you God for the many blessings that come from submitting to you. Help me to honor you first in everything.

Juggling, Forgiveness, Marriage Garden

Yesterday
Spending most of the day making 6 juggling clubs was rather relaxing, a very good different kind of activity. There were a number of hurdles to overcome, but they are complete and ready for action. I tested them all out the entire way through the building process... what fun!

I want to work on a few more of these, using the Coke bottles I already have, and Sprite bottles would also make for a beautiful club. Maybe even putting something like confetti inside the bottles would be cool. Or if I was going to want the outside completely decorated in uniform fashion, shrink-wrapping in pre-printed Tyvek would be make a solid, beautiful, and waterproof club.

Luke 5-8
Sinful woman anoints Jesus at Simon's house is one of the stories I love and struggle with ... I love it because Jesus really shows what is important, honoring him. I struggle with it because I know we are all just as sinful as the next person, but it is our perception of our sins that Jesus is really dealing with. If I know I am sinful, then forgiveness is a wonderfully amazing blessing. But if I think I am okay, then forgiveness is a little less than that, maybe it is nice, good, even wonderful, but not to the same degree.

The challenge I find here is to recognize daily how sinful and how forgiven I am. To know God is to know my sinfulness, every time I am drawn into his presence I see all my flaws. Yet, in his presence I find forgiveness and blessing beyond compare. This produces greater and greater humility, profoundly challenging my intellectual pursuit of prayer. When I sense this, I just can't say very much in prayer, all my prayer plans are out the window. I probably need to write out more of my prayers, not for show, not to put into a public place, but to train myself to receive God's blessing while giving it to others.

Power of a Praying Husband - Marriage
Sowing seeds of love, fidelity, respect, time, and communication, while removing weeds from the marriage garden will continually result in a greater harvest. In marriage, I am always harvesting and planting. It is a continuous process, it is always in season.

Two can keep warm, and a cord of three strands - Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, 12
Give preference to one another - Romans 12:10

Prayer
God reminds me to submit first to him, then to Jaime. Prefer and defer, respect and love, meek and mild.

Excitement to Execution

This morning... and most mornings of the past week, I have been allowing other things to get the very first part of my morning. This cuts into my devotional time. I must, as the Chinese like to say, insist that before all else I will read & pray.

Yesterday
Jaime met me outside the gate at 12:40 with lunch from Subway so I could run to the International SOS to finish the series of rabies vaccinations after my 3 hours of Chinese. Had a nice chat in Chinese with a professing Christian cabbie on the way there. He was born and raised in Beijing, too. On the way home I stopped into Lion Mart to buy some measuring cups and spoons and had a lovely chat with a couple of Christian ladies. I then went to the flower market and bought 3 strands of LED Christmas lights for the tree - totaling 100RMB. Chatted with the taxi driver who knows nothing of Jesus and nothing of church, but learned that his daughter has graduated college and works in Beijing. Got home just in time to ride the elevator up with Sal, and find Gary patiently waiting for the door to be opened for our men's study group, when Andrey arrived. Great timing! We then went to dinner with friends from English Corner. They told us jokes... more than a few, all pretty good. I tried to relay the idea on this T-shirt: "Hold the 没有!" but it didn't work out... they laughed politely, but didn't really understand. I think they have even been a little offended because China can't provide everything America does... like size 14 (49) shoes. During dinner I got a call from a doctor that wants to attend our worship services! I am relaying details for our Christmas party.

Luke 1-4
From excitement to execution. Luke 4:16-30, the passage where Jesus is telling the people that he has fulfilled the prophecy in their hearing. He goes on to tell them they aren't going to be happy with him, will tell him to heal himself, and that he is going to bless the Gentiles, so they take him by force to a cliff attempting to throw him off! They forgot all the passages that talk about the Messiah being a blessing to the nations, not just to the Jews. They were so focused on their chosenness that it became an idol and they didn't want the Messiah to bless anyone else!

Power of a Praying Husband - Moods
This chapter reminds me of the Luke passage just mentioned (jokingly). But in reality, a women goes through so many changes every day, carries with her all the emotional impact of her lifetime, and has such an interwoven emotionally charged memory that can be a major blessing, but also has a negative side. Being sensitive to the current running through Jaime, I need first to pray for a compassionate response when there is a flare up of the negative side of these moods. On the blessing side... she is able to connect, remember, and work through things in ways I sure can't. God has given women such sensitivity for a reason, I just pray I can lovingly encourage the blessedness of this gift.

Prayer
Praying without ceasing these past few days has really been a blessing. I am so thankful to God for the peace in my heart, the joy of overcoming obstacles with incredible ease, and the softening of my heart to sharing Jesus with more people each day.

Hallelujah!

Yesterday

Mark 13-16
The amount of witnesses throughout Mark are astounding. Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus... you don't believe Jesus really went to the cross, try talking with these two guys. Yes, I know they aren't here now, but how many people went to talk to them in their day? Just thinking about all the people that Jesus fed - even if the 4,000 and the 5,000 were all the same people - they were witnesses to the power of God. Back in the day I could have gone to chat with them. I could have asked about what it was like... remember that time Jesus healed the local deaf boy? What about that guy that come down through the ceiling, wasn't that just crazy? How about the time the women came up to him and just touched him, but there must of been so many people, how did he know? Was she embarrased or blessed because Jesus talked with her?

Power of a Praying Husband - Motherhood
Jaime is not a mother yet... not even trying yet. But we are praying about this more and more, preparing our hearts and minds and asking God to prepare faithful children for his service.

The power of prayer is overwhelming! Ask and it will be given to you - John 15:16; if two or more agree and ask it will be done - Matthew 18:19; one will chase away 1,000 and 2 will make 10,000 flee - Deuteronomy 32:30... God help me to pray!

Prayer
I am reminded to trust you Lord. I think about the times I have trusted you, really asking you to do something, and you do. God thank you for your blessings, help me to bless others. I have received so much, help me to give freely to others knowing you will provide for all my needs (and most of my wants too). God give me success in ministry, give me your understanding of success. Help me to surrender everything to you each day, faithfully taking up the good works you have prepared for me. Bless me with humility and generousity in spirit, love, time, and finances. God you are so wonderful, thank you for your Son Jesus. May you be praised in my life, through Jesus I pray, Amen.

Thankful!

Yesterday
In respect to goals... I haven't been to the gym yet this week. I must go today. I should have gone yesterday afternoon, however the new teacher is much more insistent (which is good) that we do homework each day. She gives us quite a bit more of it too! Also, I spent about an hour or an hour and a half online, which should have spent on homework. Throughout the day, I checked email and Facebook more than I should have.

Good news! We have a new brother - from Gary's study group. Don't know specifics yet, but hope to find out soon.

We had a great study here last night. Genesis 3, the foreshadowing of Christ with the serpent's head being crushed and the sacrifice of the animal(s) for Adam & Eve's clothing. Plus, Sun Xu played her guitar like instrument. We took a video of her playing and I hope to post it soon.

On a side note, I learned how to make a Tyvek (think indestructible mailing envelope) wallet!

Mark 9-12
Key passages ...

Whoever is not against us is for us talks about a cup of water and the reward that comes when giving it to a believer!

The rich young man calls Jesus good and Jesus responds, "Only God is good." The man's opinion of Jesus is correct and Jesus accepts the position and goes on to list the last 6 of the 10 Commandments - all relating to human relationships. The man says, I have done all of these. Then Jesus says, what about the other 4? - Not exactly, but indirectly He tells the man the get rid of his idol of riches, his false security blanket, to return his trust in God and to show his love for others. Then Jesus goes on to compare the wealthy with a camel and getting that through some really small places, like the eye of a needle. He is making it clear that if one thinks he is rich, then God has no place in his heart; if one acknowledges his poverty before God, he can have the true riches of heaven and use this worlds wealth to demonstrate God's abundant blessings. Give up what you think is yours to serve God - doesn't mean one has to travel half way around the world, but that one has to get put idols (those things which take us away from God) in their place. Home, family, money, and everything else comes after serving God. I must rid myself of the desire to place more importance on earthly things, putting all that desire for importance on God. Then God will prioritize my life according to His Word & Spirit, showing me the proper place for everything.

The withered fig tree has forgiveness as a the key to unlocking a faith that moves mountains! Give God's blessing to others, release the captives that are in your heart and allow God to work through your heart to show the world His gracious love.

Marriage at the resurrection shows that God is a God of the living. We often talk of how a person has died, but God still sees them as living! How can I change my perception?

Power of a Praying Husband Ch. 3
Guarding the heart is all about a covering for Jaime's emotions. Often we let Satan have more power than we should. We think too much about the lies he tells us. We can harness the power of God to defeat these thoughts, lies, and other stumbling blocks according to 2 Corinthians 10:5. I am called to pray for Jaime's continued growth and my ability to compassionately understand her immediate emotional state. Asking how to pray for her in that situation, praying about how I respond, and that God comes first in her emotional needs. I will help to satisfy these needs, but they first must be recognized as coming from God because He is the provider of all good gifts.

Prayer
Today I am thankful for:
God hearing prayer and answering.
Giving me a great wife, ministry, and partnerships.
Transforming power of the Word in my life and all who ask.
New insights each day.
Spiritual growth of our study group.
Ability to learn Chinese and teachers to help.
Guidance of the Spirit.
Accountability partners.
Life.
Plants and the oxygen they give.

Spirit Powered

I'll just be posting once a day. Too busy to spend so much time on this activity. Each morning I'll post:
1. Yesterday's Review
2. Bible Reading
3. Book Reading
4. Prayer Insight

Yesterday
A good bit of yesterday was spent studying Chinese, but, as I often do, I found myself easily sidetracked. I was watching guys build scaffolding to fix a sign in front of KFC. Coming home I spent some time online to unwind. Then back to studying. I started 1 new class and restarted another, that is 3 hours of Chinese class and many hours of writing characters.

Mark 5-8
Jesus fed the people twice and the disciples still didn't get it. Really love the part at the end of Mark 8 where Jesus makes it clear, "Follow me, tell everybody and you'll get your reward!"

Power of a Praying Husband
Praying for Jaime's spirit today, the gas for her life. John 4:14, 15:7, Matthew 5:6.

Prayer
So busy this morning. I need to run, been praying through it all.

Yesterday I was on the internet for a little too long. I didn't get to study for class - I had used an hour of free time to take care of internet things, then went to a team meeting, then to IKEA to get our Christmas tree. By the time we got home it was nearly 10pm, bedtime.

Our team meeting was very good, we talked about many things as always and enjoyed a time of prayer together. I really felt God's love & forgiveness, my need for his healing of historic hurts that I caused and that were put on me. My relationship with the Lord is growing deeper as I increasingly focus on His love for me and others.

Mark 1-4
The measure you use... Jesus said, "Consider carefully what you hear, with the measure you use, it will be applied to you - and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him."

Open your heart to God and you will receive more of God in the future; close your heart to God and you will receive less of God in the future. God is love. God is truth. God is Mercy. God is grace. I want more of God.

The Power of a Praying Husband Ch. 1

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so. Proverbs 3:27

I am called to love my wife, to show her compassion, to be her protector and provider. I can do these things. I do not have to be her fixer, I can just listen. I do not have to give her diamonds and pearls, but I can bless her with them if I am able, more than that she wants my heart. Jaime wants to know that I care about her, that I want to listen to her hurts and comfort her. I definitely shouldn't be the cause of her pain or problems.

One who turns away his ear from the hearing of the Law, even his prayer is an abomination. Proverbs 28:9

God has shown me twice this morning that I need to turn increasingly towards Him to hear His voice through the Word, to talk with Him face to face, and to be transformed by His power.

Prayer
The first chapter of The Power of a Praying Husband has been so good, I hope it just gets better and better. Using the guidance of this book, I have been stretched. Praying for the life God's wants for me is much better than trying to force myself to become who I think I should be. God is so much better at rewiring my head and heart, which then direct my mouth and movements.

Praise God! Thank you God for drawing me close to you, softening my heart, and giving me your Spirit. Continue to bless me so that I can bless others with your gifts of love, mercy, compassion, forgiveness, and honor.

Faithful, One Mind, Practical

Matthew 25-28
Just before Jesus goes to the cross, he teaches his disciples to be ready. He encourages them to be ever watchful for his return. In ch. 24, Jesus teaches his disciples to be ready or else they will be wicked and begin to beat the other servants and eat and drink with drunkards. This will bring incredible punishment upon them.
The 10 Virgins, The Talents, and The Sheep and the Goats, then the most powerful story of all... the Crucifixion and Resurrection.

Power of a Praying Husband - Ch. 1
Pray for myself, to remove all bitterness, negativity, etc. while preparing me to be the spiritual leader of the home. We are to have one in mind, to be focused on the same God, goals, and goodness. Whatever has brought division needs to be lifted up to God so that it can be removed or transformed to bring unity and healing.

Prayer
This morning I'm thankful for Jaime's encouragement to pray throughout our marriage. She often thinks of these things while I am trying to be more "practical" - taking care of what I can do, instead of focusing on what God can do.

Remembering how much God values each of us, we should value God much more. God is so personal, loving each one of us. I need to be more thoughtful of this, it will help me to be more focused on loving others as God loves us. (Mathew 6:24-34; 6:12; 10:26-31)

Bless the 2 new sisters and Simon & Tina's marriage.

Missing Last Night's Review

Daily Goals:

1. Bible
   Having read throughout church yesterday, due to not understanding the Chinese sermon, I got further along in the reading plan.
   
2. Mandarin study
   Didn't do much at all. I listened to Pimsleur on the way to the dentist. Good news, I found a word list for all that Pimsleur teaches that I can plug into PlecoFlash.
   
3. Fitness
   Didn't really happen this past week.
4. Internet
   Yesterday wasn't especially good, but if I am justifying myself, I found a lot of resources for studying Chinese.
   

Weekly Goals:

1. Sabbath
   Didn't happen this past week.
   
2. Call family
   Called a few.
   
3. Email Newsletter
   Working on the schedule and content.
   

Monthly Goals:

1. Have a full Sabbath day
   This will have to been scheduled like everything else.
   

Yearly Goals:

1. Read the Bible through - accomplished in daily goals
   I will try for as much of the NT as possible before the New Year.
   
2. Take a relaxing vacation with Jaime
   Working on this for January.
   

When 2 or 3 Gather

Matthew 16-18
I especially like chapter 18's statement, "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." This statement has power because of the surrounding verses of the chapter. Who is the greatest? The one with a little child's faith. How do we deal with personal sin, my sin? I cut it off, cut it out of my life, very severely. Who should we be looking up to or at least not "down on"? The little one whose angel continually sees the face of the Lord. If they wonder off? We bring them back. If they sin? Show them in all humility. If they repent, forgive, if not take it up to the next level of accountability. All the way to God. God, who is with us as we trust & obey him, love and serve the little lambs, deal severely with personal sin, and forgive our fellow faith travelers.

Power of a Pray Husband
"It's His will, not ours that will be done." If I am praying for my wife, then I am submitting to God's will. I am asking for God's will to be done in my life and in my wife. If this is the focus of my prayers, then I have been given God's power to claim freedom from Satan's power. Sure he can tempt, but that doesn't make him my master. Sure he can frustrate, but that doesn't make him my father. God alone is my Savior, Father, Lord, Master, and Friend! God has granted me power to defeat the schemes of Satan. God wants me to be like Jesus and He thinks I can become like Jesus!

Praying
Using the prayer given by Jesus,

• Our Father - You are Lord of all, whether we acknowledge this fact or not
• Who is heaven - You are so high above us, yet You love us enough to become one of us
• Your name is holy - help me to keep your name holy in my life, to give you honor, prestige, power, and glory at all times
• Your will be done - may Earth look more and more like heaven, especially my life
• Give us today our daily bread, my daily needs you provide - I don't need more stuff, I need more of You
• Forgive us as we forgive others - I need greater forgiveness than I let on, I am desperate for You
• Lead me into humility & obedience to you, keep me from sin and Satan
• Let me experience your power and presence in my life everyday
• For you are all powerful and receive all the glory
• In the name of Jesus
• May all this be Your will and mine - that is the greater difficulty, turning my will into Yours.

God has shown me again that I need greater humility, greater obedience to Him, and more trust in our relationship.

Nightly Report

Today being Saturday...

Goals
I should specify these are more for weekdays, that will bleed over into the weekend. Meaning this:

1. Everyday Sun-Sat: Pray, read portions of the Bible and another good book, and journal it. (30 min.)
2. Weekdays: Mandarin study. In class time (3 hours) and studying outside (3 hours). Going to class is easy, studying outside will require accountability - anyone interested? I should spend 3 hours to preview, prep, and review. Then I want to study other material for an hour or so... maybe this is unrealistic.
3. Weekdays (maybe weekends if needed): Fitness - going to the gym at minimum 3 times each week.
4. Weekdays (with a caveat of no more than 3 times on weekends): Check Facebook, email, and such (no more than) 2 times a day.

Devotional
As per the previous post - I did have my quite time today.

Mandarin Studies
I didn't plan to set aside massive amounts of time for studying Chinese. In fact, on Saturdays I have no plans as of yet to study, unless I am going somewhere alone. Then I put on my headphones and listen to Pimsluer. I was able to update to Pleco Dictionary 2.0, which means I have been working the new flashcard program a lot! It is great. I have done a lot of those, but haven't really figured out all the settings yet, so the cards don't repeat as frequently as I'd like.

Fitness
Doesn't apply - it's Saturday.

Internet
Yes, I checked once this morning, then again before heading out, and tonight. I needed to keep up with a thing or two, specifically an email about accountability. I guess it could have waited, but I am doing better. I had greater self-control today.

Pulled Up by the Roots

Power of a Praying Husband
God calls us all to pray, especially the spiritual leader of the home. I need to pray for Jaime, our future children and grandchildren, and all that entails our family.

Matthew 13-15
Jesus called the leaders blind and said, "Every plant that wasn't planted by my heavenly Father will be pulled up by the roots." He must be saying they are going to be falling down a lot, the blind leading the blind, and that God will be yanking them out because they are the weeds spoken of in 13:30. This is where Jesus says, "I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn."

Praying
I felt prompted to use the acronym A.C.T.S. this morning in prayer: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication. Which led me to be thankful for some really difficult things in my life... my Father being on the them. I ask God to bless him and use him, he has done good in his life and with God, he can do more good.

Daily posting will be required!

According to Zig, I need to do some daily journaling (日记, 日报, 杂志) about my goals. So today, I'll begin this process with my new blog. If anyone reads it, that's fine. If you do, please be sure to understand it is the story of achieving my goals.

First, the broadest terms of these goals.
Second, Zig's insights into attaining goals.
Third, the breakdown of these goals into doable daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly tasks.

What are these goals? They can all be summed up as follows:

1. Becoming a more faithful disciple of Jesus Christ. Because of this first goal the others will become increasingly easier to attain. Key areas: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control. (I think humility is expressed in every area of this, but I want to make sure I remember, focus, and practice humility!)

2. Loving my wife according to her needs. (The 5 Love Languages is a great book to help with this, add to that the Power of a Praying Husband, Boundaries in Marriage, and a few others.)

3. Speaking Mandarin, not just studying it, but using it! I want to be able to converse without hesitation or frustration, to share the love of Jesus with passion in words and deeds that are easily understood.

4. Increase my general fitness level.

10 Steps to Goal Getting by Zig Zigler

1. Make the commitment to reach your goal. "One person with a commitment is worth a hundred who only have an interest." Mary Crowley.

2. Commit yourself to detailed accountability. Record your progress toward your goals every night, and list the six most important things you need to do the next day. Daily discipline is the key to reaching your goals.

3. Build your life on a sold foundation of honesty, character, integrity, trust, love, and loyalty. This foundation will give you an honest shot at reaching any goal you have set properly.

4. Break your intermediate and long-range goals into increments.

5. Be prepared to change. You can't control the weather, inflation, interest rates, Wall Street, etc. Change your decision to move toward a goal carefully--but be willing to change your direction to get there as conditions and circumstances demand.

6. Share your "give-up" goals (i.e., give up smoking, being rude, procrastinating, being late, eating too much, etc.) with many people. Chances are excellent they're going to encourage you.

7. Become a team player. Remember: You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.

8. See the reaching. In your imagination see yourself receiving that diploma, getting that job or promotion, making that speech, moving into the home of your dreams, achieving that weight-loss goal, etc.

9. Each time you reach a goal your confidence will grow so that you can do bigger and better things. After accomplishing any goal, record it in your journal, Weekly Planner or Palm Pilot.

10. Remember, what you get by reaching your destination isn't nearly as important as what you become by reaching your goals--what you will become is the winner you were born to be!

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There are many things I already do that have become wonderful habits, others not so good that need curtailing. Here are the items I need to work on a little more diligently. Anyone up for accountability? I mean real accountability?

Daily Goals:

1. Pray, read portions of the Bible and another good book, and journal it. (30 min.)
2. Mandarin study. In class time (3 hours) and studying outside (3 hours). Going to class is easy, studying outside will require accountability - anyone interested? I should spend 3 hours to preview, prep, and review. Then I want to study other material for an hour or so... maybe this is unrealistic.
3. Fitness - going to the gym at minimum 3 times each week.
4. Check Facebook, email, and such no more than 2 times a day.

Weekly Goals:

1. Take a Sabbath (12 hours at minimum)
2. Call family
3. Email Newsletter

Monthly Goals:

1. Have a full Sabbath day

Yearly Goals:

1. Read the Bible through - accomplished in daily goals
   
2. Take a relaxing vacation with Jaime

Do you know of any other goals I should have?