Wow, I don't really know what to say, but God has definitely been at work while I have been here. I feel like I am in a constant state of being sanctified and being drawn to Him. As I have been reading through Mark, I have been learning more about Jesus, and even more about myself. As I read through Mark 4:40 a few days ago, I felt that the question Christ was asking, he was asking the very same thing of me. He says, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" I came to the conclusion that there was a couple things in my life that I was not letting Him take care of, and trying to control myself. I have also been learning a lot about what it means to live by faith, to be moved by the spirit. I feel like in my mind I still don't have a grasp of this concept, yet I have been seeing it happen in my own life so I know it is true, this has been a consequence of studying through the book of Galatians. I have also been doing my own study through the book of I John, I started this one before I left, but since I have been here, God has shown me 2 things from this book. One, I am a child of God, and what that truly means to be as such. And two, how to love the brethren. This I have felt has the most important as of late. i have had a couple discussions about this, and I have come to realize that without love among the brethren, a ministry fails. It is what Jesus says in John 13:35, "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." He has also shown me just how selfish and prideful I am. When it comes to my knowledge in the word, I can get pretty arrogant. Then during the study on Galatians, I really started to struggle to be the one with the answers, this is when I realized what was going on, I had been praying for humility, and this was how God answered. During this time I also learned that I don't know how to listen to people, I am always seeking the next great answer, or to give the advice they may or may not need to here at the time. What an Amazing God we have that he manifests his Glory to us by putting us through trials to refine us. I have also been reading Desiring God by John Piper. Through it I really have been learning what it means to find joy in God, and what it means to worship and love Him, and to love others. Finally, I thought I would share a praise. I don't know the whole story yet, but for those of you who know Taka, he is on staff in Tokyo right now, he has been in Shizuoka for the past few days due to a friend who was just released from the hospital so he could die. He, Takashi, has been struggling with cancer and Taka has been ministering to him for a long time. Taka sent me an email Sunday while I was in Tokyo, to tell me he was going one last time to share the gospel with Takashi. Well, I saw Taka last night and he told me that Takashi accepted Christ. What an amazing work of God!!! God's sovereign hand truly guides the steps of man. Oh, and one more thing that I would like to share before I sign off. Monday night, I went out to the beach to watch over the girls while they had some alone time. I didn't know why I went, because Matt was already with them, but I found that God had a purpose for me being there. I was struggling with selfishness again, and it was at this point that I felt that being stripped away from me. I was praying for everyone, but myself, something that had not happened in prayer once yet on this trip. I was also struggling with a question that Kanako had asked of Nate, "If God is God, why would he allow a whole nation as big as Japan go to hell?" It was at this point that I feel God spoke to my heart and gave me comfort. He brought to mind I Kings 19, when Elijah is stuggling with the state of the leadership of Israel and their blatant rebellion against God, and this right after God had manifested his power by setting the alter ablaze and consuming it and everything on it. God spoke to Elijah and told him that he had preserved a remnant that had not bowed in worship to Baal. God really gave me peace that even in Japan he was preserving for Himself a remnant. And as I was praying for laborers, i felt a peace about returning to Japan at some point in the future. I had been struggling with that this weekend, I didn't want to come back because it has just been so difficult. But God put that to rest, and I feel like I am perhaps being called to return to work in Japan at some point in the future. Anyway that is all for now. To those who have been praying for me, thank you so much. And to those who sent me (via financial gifts) thank you for your sacrifice. I am truly grateful for the work God has done through you.
Grace and Peace,
Dustin
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3 comments:
Dustin,
I also have questioned and thought about God's sovereignty concerning entire nations who do not know the truth. Often I tend to aviod thinking of matters that are so uncomfortable, just because it is hard to fathom that many people with no direction in life facing an ultimate punishment that I also deserved. I have been reading through some of the minor prophets and feel like many of the books have a theme of God's justice against wickedness and at the same time tell of his preservation of a remnant of his people. What an amazing thing that God chose to rescue some of the very people that had offended him. But I guess the point of this comment was that I wanted to say that I was encouraged by your post in that God indeed has set up a remnant even in Japan. And I think that it is also cool that he is possibly directing you to be a part of his work there. I am glad that you are having a sweet summer!
In Him,
Tyler Moore
Dustin,
Well it has happened, I have finally read a blog. I really am glad I did. God is completely amazing, He used you to speak to my heart. I continue to wonder and pray about Japan and have been completely nieve as to the truth of what the people face there. As to what you guys are ministering in. I now am able to see yours and so many other hearts being opened to these people and am so glad you get a chance to be there and are able to send God's work back to us through a small journal. Thank you Dustin. Continue to seek God while there and know He is working in miraculous ways.
IN HIM
Rena
ps. can you tell Jeanette I love her lots and miss her so much. I cant wait to hear about hers (and your) trip.
Thanks.
As far as God letting a whole country perish goes read Psalms 103 and especially 6-14! That was a good question from a human perspective but from the divine perspective it maybe alittle short sighted! Israel was a stiff necked people and they were chosen! Read I Peter 4:12-19 especially verse 17-18 also II Peter 3 especially 1-9. Remember history starts with the garden not 3,000 years ago with the Japanese ancestry!
Good diologue on this article especially from hearts and minds that don't shy away from tough questions for God! God always has an answer if we are willing to listen to Him :o)
To whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever! Amen.
Dad
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