Unexpected Blessings

Ever had a day which tried to get away from you but ended up holding several unexpected blessings?

Today was that day.

I have firm boundaries in place for time spent on PWOC....I began the day using most that time in one chunk.....I had a great workout. Everyone continues to enjoy the changes we made in school. The younger two now LOVE school and ask to read to me any time I sit down.

I had been praying about a service project I could get Zander and Stacia involved in.  Last night (or way early this a.m. - the sun rises near 4 a.m. I think), I hit on an idea and we had a grand time zipping out after most of school was done to do our deed. We also ran to buy Bre's airplane ticket. Our little blond charmer always seems to bring me luck at the airport and I got another "very special discount" for Bre to fly home from Tokyo.

We came home, did a bit more school at the children' s request - certainly a blessing. I'd forgotten about Arielle's small group so she and I rushed out. Our conversations in transit were a blessing. I had an hour to run to a friend's and visit with her as she baked bread. A treasure.

Mike had to drive to Shirika - on the Western side of Honshu as there had been an American casualty and they requested a team to conduct a memorial service. The station was right on the Sea of Japan and he brought me home three bright green pieces of sea glass. My first from the Sea of Japan - a blessing.

We decided to go for a family walk after dinner clean up - it's been a long winter and the nearly perfect weather is welcome!!!!

Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Mostly a Tribute to Friendship ::snort::

This year's PWOC leadership team has come up with a summer schedule  which  allows for a bit of structure while taking advantage of the nice weather and the PCS season. It  allows one Tuesday a month without an activity.  Once a month we'll have a Drop-In Study. We're using Bible Studies on Demand - a variety of speakers, no homework, and great discussion groups.  One Tuesday a month we'll have breakfast and prayer. One week will be Japan 101 - Learning to Thrive in Japan. I"m not sure how attendance will be in  June, but as word gets out I think this will be a hit.  The following week is an Off Base Excursion ...hoping to have same women from Japan 101 join us, they'll be getting familiar with us and Japan at the same time.

Tuesday was the first Drop-In Study. We haven't usually had summer studies and were thrilled for 32 participants.

I rushed from Bible Study to the Parish Advisory Council meeting.

The next stop of the day was the  airport where we had to say goodbye to the BA family.  Rick is a chaplain whose ministry has consistently blessed his squadrons and his service (as well as his fellow staffers).  Ricky is a doll with a smile that lights up a room.  Renee has been my pedicure/ministry/travel/accountability/onsen partner for the past two years. I'm sad  our time together is over. I could rail against military life or realize we'd never have met  if  our husbands weren't military chaplains assigned in Misawa.  I choose joy....and I pray for my dear friend and her family as they move. The fact that so many hearts are feeling a bit bruised is a testament to the lovely friendship Renee offered so many.

We've explored Japan together.... 

She's a pretty good parade dancer....

Wonderful train partner

Served together on the PWOC Asia Region board

We shared many chapel projects, brainstormed women's ministry ideas ...

and planned a few retreats together....I spoke at a couple of them, she at the last one and we were blessed!

 I treasure our friendship. I strive to extend to others the gracious friendship Renee extended to me.  It was a joy to connect on so many different levels. I know God has rich blessings for the BA family and they will continue to bless every chapel community in which they are called to live.

Until we meet again....Godspeed!

Choosing Joy!

©2011 D.R.G.

~Coram Deo~

Living all of life before the face of God...

Misawa PWOC Board Planning and Training Retreat

Friday and Saturday, all who could from the local PWOC board, traveled to Lake Towada for a planning and training retreat. We couldn't fully plan the year with some missing and TIME WAS SHORT.....Our  goal going in was for all to begin building relationships with each other and for us to share vision. We accomplished both goals - splendidly - and had some fun along the way.  These amazing  ladies hung in there through Engage Your Strengths, a discussion of personality and love languages. We are armed with info to help us work well together. LOL  We breezed through the personality and love languages and spent quite a bit of time discussing strengths, how to play to them, how to lead with them. Everyone had taken the test before the retreat which allowed us to get a full picture of the board as we charted results.

The trip began by me filling our "new van" with diesel again. It is not diesel. "Green means go" is the mantra I repeat to myself when I fill the van....Unfortunately, I the mantra dates to our first DIESEL van  in Misawa.  I told the ladies we had a tsunami on the last road trip and this was nothing to worry about. I left the van at the shop, we piled in Muriel's car and off we went.

The drive through Oriase Gorge is beautiful any time of year. 

Five us drove up in Muriel's car and stopped along the way for a photo or two. 

We were blessed with gorgeous weather. 

Our rooms were bright and airy. After figuring out the tiny chairs, we were set up well for our meetings. 

Tara shares her position is one of pouring into lives so they can eventually pour out to others - leading to intimacy with Jesus and each other. 

Jess keeps us all together in her role as publicity team leader.

We shared lots of laughs and discovered Mandy is quite talented in the genre of  pipe-cleaner-art. 

Photo is missing several folks....but with creatively fun women like these Misawa is in for a great year of PWOC. 

Yes, there is an onsen....and yes, we enjoyed it late on Friday night. 

This is the only hotel in the area with an "International Buffet". The accommodations are different than many Americans are used to and I wanted our new ladies to have first-hand experience with the hotel for future "retreat location" discussions.

Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Updating

I cannot let Krista keep her blog more current than ours. I must get cracking.

Wednesday we continued to keep our nose to the grindstone.

Thursday some kept their noses to the grindstone. I had several events I could not miss. After a bit of school, I headed to base for a meeting with the local PWOC board and Ch. G (Michael), our PWOC chaplain.  I also met with our Spiritual Life and Financial Liaison to chat over the upcoming year. In between appointments, I ran to the commissary and worked on details for our  Board planning and training retreat.

Thursday evening was a chapel staff farewell for the Beyea family. Rick is a fellow-chaplain. Renee has been a great friend and we've also traveled to various conferences together,shared a deployment, mentored each other, worked on local and regional PWOC boards, worked on local chapel projects and simply had fun....together. I spent the rest of the weekend trying to ignore their approaching departure from Misawa.

Choosing Joy!

©2011 D.R.G.

~Coram Deo~

Living all of life before the face of God...

Tie Dye Queen!

My word - what a busy week! I will update real soon......but for now...Arielle has a great new hobby. She's done this before but ran out of die.....she picked some up in Oregon......She's dyed socks, napkins, t-shirts...tonight she's doing a pair of socks for one of my friend's husbands who is going to a 70's style farewell. LOL

Look at her handiwork!

This looks prettier in real life....it was a fat shirt of mine, but it was white. I wore it today and got lots of compliments and I'm one of few wearing tie dye in Japan. ::snort:: 

She's slowly turned all my old white napkins into colorful smile creators. Who wouldn't smile at such a cheery table setting? 

Pressure cooker is done....More later.

Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Blow the Lid Off the Box

 “Faithful, abundant and True,” has been a timely study in Misawa.  

I read as Priscilla shared we file our knowledge and experiences with God into a box. The box is filled based on study, church traditions, history with God - it is o.k. to have a God box.  It is arrogant to put a lid on the box and assume God cannot and will not ever act in a way not contained in our box. I’ve watched God move in unexpected ways in Asia region.  The following quote echoes what I hear God speak to me in our trysts through the word, meditation, and the sweet confirmation of the Holy Spirit revealing His word and character.

“Our God is predictable in His character, but He is unpredictable in His activity. You cannot box God in. When you put your lid on a box, it doesn’t limit God; it limits your awareness of God. He’s still moving and speaking, yet you can be unaware of His transcendence, His greatness, and His ability because it’s outside your little box.” Page 94, Faithful, Abundant, True.

When God chooses to act in an unexpected and unpredictable way, I am forced to make a choice. Will I retreat to my comfort zone? Will I become disillusioned with God? Will I doubt His existence because He is not meeting my expectations?  Will I see His activity as an invitation to move out of the box?  Will I accept His loving invitation to know Him deeper? Will I allow myself to discover new aspects of His character? Will I confidently dance with him in a vulnerable place where my knowledge of His character is the only thing of which I’m sure? Will I allow Jesus, rather than my box, to be my fixed point of reference (Heb 12:1-2)?

I’ve watched God move.  Local conferences were interrupted with tsunamis. Local boards suddenly scattered. Many groups saw over 70% of their women depart, many haven’t returned as of yet. Leadership selection teams were disrupted. PCS schedules were changed. Regional Conference location changed.  Struggling leadership teams report full selected boards!  Petty conflicts have died in the face of true crisis. Bridges for the gospel of Jesus are being laid! The body of Christ is pulling together on behalf of an unchurched nation. I see our prayer for intimacy with God and each other being answered. I see small cultural shifts as we pray for revival in the nation of Japan.

Let’s allow God to blow the lid off our boxes. I want to be fully aware of God’s activity. Don’t you? You can trust His character. I see a new desire to dance with God outside of the box.  Will you join the dance?

*First shared at pwoc.org on Asia Region's page

Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

I REFUSE!

Yes, we get new songs late around here...but having heard this one it's one of my new favorites...beware - if you're in my circle of ministry - .it's sure to show up.... 

I Refuse lyrics
Songwriters: Benjamin Glover;Joshua David Wilson


Sometimes I
I just want to close my eyes
And act like everyone's alright
When I know they're not

This world needs God
But it's easier to stand and watch
I could say a prayer and just move on
Like nothing's wrong

But I refuse
'Cause I don't want to live like I don't care
I don't want to say another empty prayer
Oh, I refuse

To sit around and wait for someone else
To do what God has called me to do myself
Oh, I could choose
Not to move but I refuse

I can hear the least of these
Crying out so desperately
And I know we are the hands and feet
Of You, oh God

So, if You say move
It's time for me to follow through
And do what I was made to do
Show them who You are

'Cause I don't want to live like I don't care
I don't want to say another empty prayer
Oh, I refuse

To sit around and wait for someone else
To do what God has called me to do myself
Oh, I could choose
Not to move but I refuse

To stand and watch the weary and lost
Cry out for help
I refuse to turn my back
And try and act like all is well

I refuse to stay unchanged
To wait another day, to die to myself
I refuse to make one more excuse

'Cause I don't want to live like I don't care
I don't want to say another empty prayer
Oh, I refuse

To sit around and wait for someone else
To do what God has called me to do myself
Oh, I could choose
Not to move but I refuse

I refuse
I refuse

Lyrics from elyrics.
Choosing Joy!
©2011 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...