Tatami Talks

   Most Japanese homes have a traditional-style room with tatami mats, which is a flooring material made from rice straw. Brittany and I are using the tatami room at Joyful House as our bedroom this summer and I love it! 

   Every Tuesday, our team and the staff here will meet for a short message and prayer. Because we meet in the tatami room at Full House (the guys' house), these meetings have been called "Tatami Talks." One of these talks helped to cast vision for those who labor here in Utsunomiya, including us as summer workers. There are three things we must do and value:

1. Abide in Christ

        John 15:5 says,

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

   We are given a promise in this verse, that if we remain in Christ, we will bear much fruit. God is in relentless pursuit of fruit in our lives, but that requires us to abide in Him. Apart from Him there is no point because there is no fruit. An apple tree that does not produce apples is cut down; likewise, fruit is what gives our lives value.

2. Love

       John 13:34-35:

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

   Sometimes it seems easier to love those who do not yet know Jesus than our own brothers and sisters. But how important a witness this is to others! We are commanded to love one another as Christ has set for us an example. Why is it so important? Because people can tell that we are His disciples by how we love one another.

3.  Work hard

         1 Corinthians 15:58 says,

"Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." 

   No work done in the Lord is ever in vain; it is always valuable. We may not see a lot of spiritual progress in many students this summer, but every conversation, every act of love, every sacrifice is so important in impacting these lives.

   So what are the marks of a laborer? Bryan shared these 5 traits with us during another Tatami Talk:

Laborers,

• get launched into God's work for the kingdom by an encounter with Him and an experience of His grace.
• are focused on people, on individuals; they have a special heart on which God can write the names of people.
• find satisfaction in doing God's will. 
• recognize a great spiritual harvest everywhere they see a great spiritual need.
• have a vision for the spiritual growth of others and struggle for them in prayer.

   An example I love is given by Epaphras in Colossians 4:12. Paul writes that he is "always wrestling in prayer for you." I want to be a laborer like him; I want to wrestle in prayer for these students. Especially when I return to the States; I cannot be with them in body, but I can certainly be with them in spirit as I pray. 

   Please join me in praying- many of the friends I have made this summer are so close to believing Jesus! I sincerely plead for your prayers!!