The greatest news in all the world is that there is no final conflict between my passion for joy and God's passion for his glory.

WOW.

John Piper speaking truth.

I just read this article by John Piper entitled "The Goal of God's Love May Surprise You" (which contained the title of my blog).

For a while now I've been thinking hard about God's love. What the heck do we do with it. How can we do anything to pay Him back...or demonstrate it....or show Him how much we love Him in return?

How....

David wanted to build a temple. God denied Him, but granted that through David's line the temple would be built...and that God would be with David forever.

David know the presence of the Lord was his good...and was the one best thing.

"ONE THING I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek, that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD, and to meditate in His temple." (Psalm 27:4)

David's deepest joy was in God's love...not in the pursuit of loving Him back.


Paul wrote, "For me to live is Christ and to die is gain." (Philippians 1:21)

Though he knew his labor on earth would be fruitful and profitable for many, he knew his deepest joy was found with Christ in full revelation of His glory--not in what he could do for Christ.

It feels sometimes like sometimes I'm trying sooooooo hard to hug God, but I can't even get my arms around His pinky. Not even close. There's just not enough of me to love God through obedience...or expression....or anything. I just have to let myself be enveloped in the unfathomable greatness of His love, not even being able to see all of it....let alone imitate it well enough to get joy from my own efforts.


"God demonstrates His own love for us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

"For I say that Christ has become a servant to the circumcision on behalf of the truth of God to confirm the promises given to the fathers, and for the Gentiles to glorify God for His mercy." (Romans 15:8,9a)

"I will give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with all my heart, And will glorify Your name forever. For Your lovingkindness toward me is great, And You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol." (Psalm 86:12,13)

Nanako and Yuuki in California!

A list about this weekend!!!

I loved:

-Seeing Nanako and Yuuki!!!!
-Seeing Liz and Susan!!!!
-Going rollerskating with them and Liz
-BONFIRE!
-Talking with Joni and Joanna about Japan
-Joni's amazing apartment and her car
-Driving in Joni's car (named Tex) behind a trailer with "Big Tex" painted on it
-Talking with Susan, Liz, Yuuki, Walter, Amy, and Joanna at the bonfire
-Looking for seashells (kai wa totemo kirei kata yo!)
-Playing frisbee at the beach
-Talking about Arnold Schwartzeneggar commercials for California in Japan (He speaks Japanese in them!!! California nandemo aru-fornia--I think that's how it goes...haha :)
-Attending UC Irvine Navs
-Meeting many new wonderful people!
-Talking about Japan
-Talking in Japanese
-Laughing in Joni's apartment with Nanako, Yuuki, Joni, Joanna, and Liz
-Randomly seeing Italian people every time I went to the airport O_O


I told you people I would be more excited after sleeping... :D

Cho tanoshikata yo!

Nanako to Yuuki!!!! California ni kitekurete arigatou!!!!

A Day...

Prayer, communication, classes, exam, Italian resume, Italian tutoring, trying to speak in Italian and English at the same time (to two different people), EDGE Corps interview, coordination for going to California this weekend, packing for California this weekend, driving between my mom's house and school...

Today was sort of intense. Good. Busy. Draining. Productive. A little nerve-wracking.

In Japan, one of the staff asked me, "Wouldn't you rather be tired from doing good than from doing evil?" Yes. Yes, I would. But I'd much rather not be exhausted. Lately I've been contemplating this...

I know today looked the way it was supposed to look...and was full of many exciting things. Things I have to objectively remember that I'm passionate about while in the moment of "Holy cats! What is going on?! Stop, life! STOP!"

I don't know. I'm learning rest in God; but even in light of that, feeling full of energy is a gift from Him that I am not entitled to, nor something I can expect at the moment I want it. BUT I can be thankful that His help is sure, that I don't have to be worried about things beyond the moment I have allotted to work on them, that all I can do is my best and He is in control.

These things I know.

But there are still days like today just after which I can only make one face. It is this: O_O


(AND, btw, I am so excited to see Nanako and Yuuki, two friends from my summer in Japan, this weekend! YAY! I'll be able to express more of that excitement on my face tomorrow morning...)

Regional Conference, Righteousness, and Other Stuff

So every year the Sunland Navigators have a regional conference in Pine Valley, California. This year was amazing. The theme was remembering.

A Few Highlights:

-Riding in the car with Ashley Stephenson on the way to California :)
-Kyu Ho's talk on Friday night about the righteousness we have through Christ
-Seeing friends from my time in Japan
-SWEET time in the Word with Jesus
-Breakfast with Krista Morrison, my Bible study leader from last year
-Clarity and guidance for future plans
-Lunch with some sophomores from UA, Diana, and Kyu Ho, his wife Tara (I think), and their daughter
-San Diego beach with a couple sophomores from UA, Ashley Stephenson, and Kyleigh
-Dinner with people who love Japan, people who are interested in Japan, and lots of Japan-related conversation
-Seeing Susan! Que surprise!
-Meeting and talking with Nana, a foreign exchange student from Chuo University in Tokyo, where we did BEST club over the summer
-a workshop on girl/guy relationships led by Dustin and Lori Butler
-hugging and praying with Liz at 1:30am
-Every school cheering for University of Hawaii (new ministry, first conference) :)


A couple shots of us jumping on the beach:

From Left to right: Kyleigh, Kat, me, Ashley S., and Angela

And: Kyleigh, Me, Angela, Kat

I loved it. ^_^