Recipe for an Amazing Birthday

Last weekend (on Saturday), I turned 26!!

And I’ve never been having more fun in my life than I am NOW!!

One reason: Jesus Lifehouse Church!!!!

Birthdays are always fun and something to celebrate (no matter what age you may be!), but this birthday was EXTRA SPECIAL!!

In the morning, I got to celebrate May 22nd with my AMAZING friends Tobacchi and Yukiko – why?
BECAUSE….they got married!!!

They were the CUTEST, CUTEST couple!!

The wedding was awesome, full of joy and laughter…and even a few tears as people were moved by the beautiful ceremony and the strong, pure love that these two share for each other!

These two met and fell in love at JLH (Jesus Lifehouse) and their love is so amazing, pure and, well, like a fairytale…because it was scripted by the author of love, Jesus Christ <3

At JLH, the atmosphere is just SO amazing – it’s like we are one big family – we all just love one another so much and it’s amazing to be able to come together on special days (like weddings) and celebrate together!!

And something about that day really touched my heart….it was Yuki-chan and Tobacchi’s BIG DAY and the Happy Couple were so busy greeting and thanking everyone…and yet, with just so much love, the Beautiful Couple made sure to take a moment to wish me a HAPPY BIRTHDAY – they are so sweet, kind and always giving – that is the HEART of Japanese people! – and I felt overwhelmed and thankful at the amount of LOVE that abounds in our Beautiful Church Family!!! Thank-you so much, Mr and Mrs Takayuki Toba (A.K.A. Tobacchi!!)

In the afternoon, after an amazing and very memorable wedding ceremony, everybody headed off in different directions to have fun in Our Beloved City, Tokyo!! That’s one of my favourite things about JLH – there’s ALWAYS something going on!! Some went to karaoke, others out for Ladies’ Afternoon Tea, other just chilled out and enjoyed the GORGEOUS SUMMER WEATHER!!

I was super blessed to be able to spend the afternoon with SUCH amazing friends….and as we said our congrats and catch-you-laters to Tobacchi and Yuki-chan, we were full of excitement at what that evening would hold…

We all hopped with enthusiasm onto the train and headed off to Tokyo International Forum in Tokyo where the heat outside was magnified inside!!

What on earth was going on inside, you must wonder??

PASSION WORLD TOUR 2010!!!!!

Chris Tomlin sang up a storm as thousands of Japanese youth (and some from other countries!!!) danced, clapped, sang and just LOVED God over a three-and-a-half hour conference that brought joy, laughter, tears and MUCH MORE!! Hope, inspiration, passion…it was truly a life-changing night!!!

As we left the venue, we were full of excitement, joy, love and just…well, we were on such a HIGH!! Life is just SO fun and I felt so blessed and amazed to be able to be surrounded by love on my birthday in a country that I’ve come to know as home!!

So, it was natural that, being at home in My Darling Japan with My Amazing JLH Family, we would want to celebrate a family meal – and that was just what we did!! Hungry from all that dancing and singing, we all headed off to Kua Aina, a fantastic burger place in the Marunouchi Building, near Tokyo Station!

http://www.marunouchi.com/marubiru/english/01_shop/restaurant.html

There, my FABULOUS friends shouted me to dinner and sang a beautiful rendition of Happy Birthday – thanks so much, Guys – LOVE YOU!!!

Though we are from all corners of the globe, we are ONE – one family, one love, one purpose and one life FILLED with joy and lived together!! I’m so thankful to God, who created and embodies the word FAMILY, that I belong to this awesome, crazy, international family!! JLH, I love you!!!

Sound like fun?

Well, here’s the great news…we are always looking to adopt!!! Seriously though, if you have some free time and are looking for a little fun, why don’t you come hang out and enjoy some great company, a lot of laughter and, of course, in the Land of Japan…there’s gotta be FOOD!!!

Getting to our CITY Services in Akasaka (Saturday & Sunday)

DIRECTIONS
From Tamikesanno Station Exit 9, Cross Roppongi Dori, turn right, and soon turn left at Tameike Pharmacy (just after the Lawson Convenience Store), the building is not far on the right. Less than a 2 min walk. Still lost? Watch this short video!

Getting to our WEDNESDAY Teaching Service

7:15PM at the Yokohama Media and Communications Center, right above Nihon-Odori Station, 6F!

Add a comment May 28, 2010

Sunday, Sunny Day, Super Day!!

Yesterday at Church was an AMAZING day!!!!

Not only was the music just wonderful!! The messages, too, were so awesome!!!

11AM – Pastor Paolos –> Protecting Your Heart from Greed!!

We had a guest speaker from Indonesia, Pastor Paolos, and his wife visiting us at JLH!! It was AAAAAAAAWWWWEEESSSOOOMMMMEEE!!! He spoke about protecting our hearts against greed, because it’s kind of like a disease that, once it gets into your heart, will destroy and isolate you – God give us everything so generously and all He asks is that we pass it on!!!

Makes sense right!! If someone did something nice, like maybe baked a cake for your birthday and then, come another friend’s birthday, you decided not to bake a cake, cos you didn’t have the time or money…well, it’s not really paying it forward, is it?

Anyway, the point of Paolos message was very simple: GIVE!!!!

It got me thinking…

We often get so caught up in our lives, thinking, I have no money, I CAN’T give – yesterday, I learned to be very careful before I go making statements like that – I have SO much!! Don’t you??

So…if you have the chance, just GIVE to others!! Remember…giving isn’t only about money – it’s about time, love, prayer…!! We have so many opportunities to do things for others! Reading this, I hope you won’t feel overcome with a sense of guilt about being selfish – no! See it as an exciting and encouraging motivation to start giving to others!! I tell ya, it’s the best high in the world, to selflessly give of yourself!! And God sees and will give back…more than our minds could ever comprehend!!

4PM – Pastor Rod –> Change – Stronger or Weaker?

Pastor Rod spoke about how, in our lives, we are always changing – in our jobs, relationships, and well…in everything!! The question is, in what direction are you moving? Are you getting stronger? Or weaker?

If I’ve learned anything in the few (wonderful) years that I’ve been at JLH, it’s that your DECISIONS are so, so, so, so, so important – they really will change the course of your life!!

Talking from the Bible, Pastor Rod summarised the life stories of two kings of…Judah (or Judea…?). Their names were Saul and, his successor, David. These two guys had a lot in common! They were both strong warriors and both had been chosen by God! Although they both rose to the position of King over the people, they were both from unimportant, obscure backgrounds and both had weaknesses – they were really no different from you or I…ordinary people, given authority to do great things by an extraordinary power!!

Sounds like their two lives were just a repetition of the same story, right?

Wrong!

David went down in history as one of the great heroes of his time – a King who did amazing things and whose legacy left a lasting impact! He was, to sum it up in one word (and pretty much my favorite word), AWESOME!!!

Saul, on the other hand was….kind-of, well, a bit of….a prize fool! He DIDN’T make good decisions and as a result, was a terrible leader in the end. So much so that he was forcibly ejected from his position of King and was replaced by David – he didn’t take it lying down either…he was slightly put out, to say the least – in fact, he tried to kill David! (The Old Testament is full of stories like these – they read like a modern day drama, but teach like the best educator!! Pretty awesome reading really!)

So…what was different, then? How did one King go one way (up and up and up!!) and the other, well…NOT up?

Saul – a man of fear, fearful of men’s opinions, and yet, relying on them to guide him through life – made dum decisions, based on the wisdom of people which…well, can be subjective and at times, NOT wisdom at all!! He was gifted, for sure, but lacked the integrity to apply these gifts in a way that had any impact – his words and actions didn’t often match – and on top of this, when he did screw things up, he then did something that we’ve all been guilty of at some stage (I know I have!!) – he looked for where to put the blame and put it anywhere but where it really belonged – on himself!!

David – he didn’t care what people thought – but there was one opinion that he sought above all else – and that was God’s! When he made a mistake, he went to God and prayed a very simple prayer: “HELP!”

When he did something stupid and things went pear-shaped, he went to GOD and said, “Dad, I messed up. I’m sorry. Can you fix it?” – And god honoured his humility and integrity!

So…who do you think is the best role model for your life? Saul, who got weaker and weaker? Or David, who just grew in strength?
Follow his example to be the best you can be and have the best life EVER!!!

5:30PM – Shinsuke –> Keep It Simple!

The last message of the day was delivered with passion and overflowing excitement, and was remarkably simple – keep your LIFE simple!!

Humans…we have an overwhelming ability to think, analyse, act, and react! And it’s not always good…

How many times have you, facing an issue, a hard time, a problem…reacted by thinking, and then thinking some more…and then some?? Until you have driven yourself half mad, and have reached a point where your thoughts, sub-thoughts and the little trails of thought have led you into a knot of thoughts, anxieties, speculations and fears that are just…crippling?? I know I’ve done that! And the only way I’ve gotten out is to stop and think: “Hey, actually…it’s okay.”

Shinsuke gave us a few bits of advice for how to keep your life simple:

1. Identity your priorities – what’s important to you? Think about these things and put energy into these – think the right thoughts – good thoughts, joyful thoughts, thankful thoughts, HAPPY thoughts, kind thoughts, loving thoughts, giving thoughts!

2. Cut the crap –> take out the stuff that isn’t important and that isn’t going to help you – I don’t think you’ll find a person in the world who could actually, seriously argue that negative thinking has been proven to be productive, helpful, or therapeutic! So…why bother with it? Your mind and heart are too precious to bother with that!

3. Decide to do something – and do it! Don’t decide you want to change and pencil “changing” into your appointment diary for Wednesday next week – do it now and do it quick – a split-second decision is all it takes – following through can be more of a process – but if you try, you’ll actually find it’s easy, effective and, well, better for you then a month at the world’s top health spa! Make over your mind and you won’t regret it!

Finally…there was one analogy that Shinsuke used to talk about having a simple thought life, leading to a simple overall life – be childlike! Doesn’t mean you have to act like one, throwing tantrums or spilling ice-cream down your front…but, THINK like a child – their faith, their purity of heart, their simplicity never fails to amaze me – they take things at face value and never feel the need to over-analyse! Children can make simple decisions and follow through on them. Cliched as it may sound, we can learn a lot from kids!

I had the best day yesterday – it was the kind of beautiful, sunny day that makes you feel light as a feather! And thanks to the awesome messages at JLH yesterday, my heart felt light, free, and liberated! I love Church! It’s so uplifting!!

To hear more of these messages and more, check out http://www.jesuslifehouse.tv/

Add a comment May 17, 2010