Alone

'I am alone...' Psalm 25:16

As usual.

Hired?

'No one hired us...' Matthew 20:7

Don`t often advertise, but I did this week. No takers yet...

Rivers...

'Rivers, canals, ponds, and all the reservoirs' Exodus 7:19

Water is in my blood. My Dad and both my Uncles went to sea. I lived a block away from a Sussex beach for over ten years, never got tired of walking along the shore. These days the beach is the other side of the city, but the local rivers still have seagulls this time of year..

Misery

' 民は 信じた． また， 主が 親しく イスラエル の 人を 顧み， 彼らの 苦しみを 御覽になったということを 聞き， ひれ 伏して 禮拜した．

They heard that the LORD was concerned about them and had seen their misery...' Exodus 4:31

Trying to use Japanese also, as I want 日本人 (Japanese people) to know God cares deeply about them. Suicide figures published today- still terribly high- men in Tokyo are the highest risk group...

Oppression

''I have certainly see the oppression of my people...'' Exodus 3:7

Since my blog yesterday, the website I use to try to read the Bible in Japanese has been attacked. So much for freedom of religion in this country...

Not conquered

'I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it' Matthew 16:18

Under communism, atheists in Russia tried to wipe Christianity off the map. They failed. They always will.

Not long

'One day not long after this...' Genesis 48:1

Thank God it will soon be spring..

Why?

''Why did you doubt me?'' Matthew 14:31

Why do we do things we know are self destructive? Because we are tired of trying to be good? Because we just want our fix and to hell with the consequences? Because the Evil One told us to do it? Because we think God will forgive us?

If I truly knew all the answers maybe I wouldn`t have to ask the questions...

Quake

'the earth quaked and trembled...' Psalm 18:7

Does God hate Haiti? The answer I believe is in Luke 13:2-3, when Jesus is asked about a recent tragedy:

'He answered them: ''Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did.'' '

The day before the quake, children were dying in Haiti from poverty. Most of us didn`t know or care. Now most of us do care.

God have mercy on us all.

Household

'..in charge of his entire household..' Genesis 39:4

In England I was paid to clean then later run a care home, so housework is nothing new. There were no women in our household after Mum died, so Dad and I coped. The difference here is that it is not my house...and my gender makes it more difficult in Japanese society for people to trust me with such tasks.

Feuding

'A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart.' Matthew 12:25

Many times my Mother wanted to walk out on my Dad, but she hung in there for my sake. When I was younger I guess I never understood how difficult that was for her. She died of cancer at 53, twenty years ago this month.

Justice

'Finally he will cause justice to be victorious...' Matthew 12:20

Things often seem unfair down here on earth. But it won`t be like this forever. In the meantime I really need to learn patience...

Wrenched

'he touched Jacob`s hip and wrenched it out of its socket..' Genesis 32:24

My back is worse now than before the professionals touched it...

Kind

'I will surely treat you kindly...' Genesis 32:12

It is very rare that I pay for a massage, but my back was playing up.

Bag

'Don`t carry a traveler`s bag...' Matthew 10:10

I need a bag for my textbooks...

Awesome

'What an awesome place this is!' Genesis 28:17

I woke to find our little suburban neighbourhood transformed into a winter wonderland of snow...

Together

'they ate and drank together' Genesis 26:30

It is pretty unusual for my wife, my daughter and I to eat with each other.

Little

'You have so little faith' Matthew 8:26

Path

'He will show you which path to take' Proverbs 3:6

Even though I have lived here a long time, it is such a big city there is always more to see. Today I found a elegantly painted chart of many local birds, with their Japanese names in katakana, down by a stretch of the river I don`t usually walk along, near Shirakibaru station. But the only birds I saw were a large group of mallards.

Authority

'He taught with real authority...' Matthew 7:29

When Jesus spoke, people listened.

Worry

'Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?' Matthew 6:27

I usually get pretty anxious before a large class. I really need to hear this.

Listen

'My child, listen to what I say...' Proverbs 2:1

Working with lots of kids this week. I try to give good advice...

Ignored

'You ignored my advice...' Proverbs 1:25

Sometimes I am stupid enough to ignore the Bible`s good advice.

Bent

'Everything they think or imagine is bent toward evil..' Genesis 8:21

Bread?

'People do not live by bread alone...' Matthew 4:4

When did I get fat?

Fear

'Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true knowledge...' Proverbs 1:7

When lightning strikes nearby when I am outside, I am scared.

First

'Evening came and then morning--that was the first day.' Genesis 1:3

Happy New Year everyone.