30 Days- April- Last Week

This is my last three days of my 30 day challenge this month. My goal was to learn was to learn 5 new Japanese words a day.

Monday
chokutsuu-direct
hatsu- depart
guriinsha- first class
norikaemasu- to transfer
kakuninshimasu- to confirm

Tuesday
asuremasu- to forget
orimasu- to get off
coinrokka- coin locker
yoyakushimasu- to make reservation
pasupooto- passport

Wednesday
gaido- guide
rentaka- rental car
uketsuke- information desk
tomaru- to stay over
hoteru- hotel

Relief

You don't know how happy and relieved I am at this moment. One of my teachers saw how stressed out the class was with AP testing and homework. I was a little stressed out, and when my teacher told us that we have an hour and a half to just get caught up, I was relieved. Before hand it seemed liked I had too much to do and too little time to do it, and now it seems like I'm finally one step ahead of the game. All of this was because of God. He knew how bogged down I was with homework, and he knew how hard I had worked over the weekend, and I was still behind. I prayed that he would take all my homework away and the stress that went with it. At one point, I was just exhausted, and I just said a quick little prayer for help. He answered my prayer with a "Yes." He gave me this extra time to get ahead. He didn't do it just for me. My whole class is worn down with homework, and some of them are staying up late into the night just to get it done. This extra time was a relief to all of us, and it seemed like it came at the perfect time for all of us.
I don't know how stressed you are or how much homework you have, but I pray that you take this as an encouragement that God is out there and he does hear your prayers. When it is the right time, he will answer them. God waited until the maximum amount of homework was dumped on me before He came to save me. I'm so glad that God stepped in when He did. If you are struggling with stress, or homework, or school, or a combination of all three, below are some verse that I pray will encourage you.

1 Peter 5:7- "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

John 14:27- "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

Philippians 4:19 "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus."

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

Note: This was written on Monday, the 28th, around 11 o'clock.

30 Days-April-Week 4

For my 30 day challenge this month, I'm trying to learn five new Japanese words a day. This week all my words have something to do with travel.

Monday
norimono-vehicle
shinkansen-bullet train
shiteiseki- reserved seating
jiyuuseki- free seating
shindaisha- sleeping car

Tuesday
tokkiyuu- limited express
kyuukou- express
futsuu- usually
bansen- track number
sen- line

Wednesday
norikan-transfer
chaku-arriving
kippu- ticket
oufuku- round trip
katamichi- one way

Thursday
ikisaki-destination
kippuuriba- ticket office
machiaishitsu- waiting room
nimotsu- luggage
hijouguchi- emergency exit

Friday
osoi- slow
tomarimasu- to stop
ryukan-inn
minshuku-guest house
goushitsu- room number

Saturday
kagi -key
kankoukyaku- tourist
keshiki- scenery
tozen- climbing
tabi- journey

Sunday
kenbutsu- sightseeing
gaido-guide
furaito- flight
shokujitsuki- meals
yokujyou- bath

The Parable of the Lost Shoe

When Jesus was alive, he would talk in parables or stories. One of my favorite
parables is the one of the lost sheep. The parable goes, “Suppose one of you has a
hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn't he leave the ninety-nine in the open
country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully
puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors
together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ That
same way there will be more rejoicing in Heaven over one sinner who repents than
over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” (Luke 15:4-7) Now
we can get the idea of the parable, but it can be hard for us to relate. So instead of
sheep, we think of the loss of one shoe. The parable would go, “Suppose one of you
has a hundred pairs of shoes and loses one of them that goes perfectly with your
blue sequined dress. Doesn't she leave the ninety-nine in the open closet and go
after the lost shoe until she finds it? And when she finds it, she joyfully puts it on her
foot and goes to her room to get ready for the dance. Then she calls her friends and
boyfriend together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost shoe.’
That in the same way there will be more rejoicing in Heaven over one sinner who
repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” When
we place the parable in modern times, it is easier to see the significance. Imagine
if you did really lose your shoe that goes perfectly with your dress for the prom.
Wouldn't you look everywhere to find it? That is exactly what God does. He hunts
you down like you hunt down your lost shoe.
Another reason why I like to use the parable with shoes is that each pair goes to a
specific outfit. Some shoes are meant to go with dresses and some are meant to go
with jeans and a T-shirt. One isn't better than the other they just have specific tasks
to do. If we all are shoes, then we each have a specific task to do. We can’t all go with
each outfit. That's why some of us have a specific skill, that someone else my not have.
But we were all created for the same reason, and we are all equally loved.

The Cost

Here is a poem I wrote that fits perfectly with the festivals of the last weekend.

What is the cost…

For milk and eggs?

Two dollars a piece.

For the newest top?

Well, for that I need a job.

For the love of your life?

What ever it takes.

For your sin?

One word “Jesus.”

For anything on earth?

You need to shell out the money.

For the rest of Eternity?

Keep your money.

Jesus already paid it.

The cost.

A boy born in a stable.

A man who would die on a cross.

A God who rose from the dead.

The love from God, 

For everyone who believes.

The purchase.

Renewed mercy everyday.

Forgiveness for our sins.

Never ending, never failing love.

Peace in times of trouble.

Hope for a better day.

Strength to survive another day.

The acceptance.

Believe with your heart,

Confess with your mouth,

That Jesus is your Lord and Savior.

Is the cost worth it?

I believe it is.

30 Days - April- Week 3

My 30 day challenge this month is to learn five new japanese words a day. I am posting it today because yesterday was Easter. I learned more verbs and I learn some nouns as well.
Monday
hikimasu-to catch cold
fuemasu-to increase
machimasu- to wait
machigaemasu- to make mistakes
mazemasu- tostir

Tuesday
miemasu- to be seen
misemasu- to show
moemasu- to learn
mochimasu- to hold
yasemasu- to become shiny

Wednesday
yobimasu-to call out
wakarimasu- to understand
yakuniachimasu- to be useful
waraimasu-to be absent
wasuremasu- to forget

Thursday
raku-comfort
rakuda-camel
reigai-exception
rentakaa-rental car
reji-register

Friday
iden-heredity
ibiki-stomach
ichiba-market
ibo-wart
ichimai-one sheet (paper)

Saturday
chiri-geography
chimeido-fame
chin-rare
chinooshisuu-IQ
chisei-reign

Sunday
taiso-gymnaastics
taiwa-dialogue
toge-thorn
to-door
tobu-jump

Easter Weekend

This weekend is Easter weekend and most of us are going to paint eggs, hide eggs to later find them, and hang out with the Easter Bunny. But Easter is so much more than that. It is all about the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and how my life is saved because Jesus died for our sins so that we may live with him for eternity. Now I like to listen to songs because I think it has a big influence on our lives, so I found some songs that relate to Easter weekend.

The first one is "Should Have Been Me" by Citizen Way. They got the inspiration for this song when a boy came up to them one day, and said that it should be us hanging on the cross instead of Jesus. A man hanging on the cross next to Jesus said, "We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." (Luke 23:41) It is so true when the man said that Jesus has done nothing wrong. It is us who sin day after day, and yet Jesus, who never sinned, was the one on the cross dying for our sins. That is why I chose this song because it shows the love that Jesus has, because he took up our cross when he himself did nothing wrong.

The other song I'm going to talk about is "Christ is Risen" by Matt Maher. This song is about the resurrection of Jesus. When the women were looking in Jesus's tomb, and an angel told them "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen." (Matthew 28:5b-6a) Jesus rose from the dead, and when we believe in everything that the gospel tells us, then we to are risen from death in our sins, into eternal life. The person dead in sin no longer exist, but in his place is a person that has eternal light. That is why I chose this song for the resurrection, because it doesn't just talk about Christ resurrection, but it also talks about us coming to life when we place our faith in Jesus.

So as you go about your activities this weekend, take sometime to listen to these two songs, and just reflect on what Jesus has done for you.


Should Have Been Me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=It-hyB1EEI8

Christ Is Risen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mXeA0G_xKc

Lessons From a Competition

Last week, I had a photography contest, in which I came in third. I want to praise God for the opportunity, and for the strength to make it through the day after staying up late to help other people. Here are my seven best photos that I had from the competition. I want to inspire you to go out and be yourself. I was totally myself in the way I edited some of the photos and I'm proud of it. I also learned that I don't need to compare myself to others. At first I was looking around and I didn't think I was a good as the people around me. But once I trusted God that He made me to be me, and I'm not suppose be like someone else, I found that I worked more efficiently and I produce better pictures. Psalms 139:14 says, "I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well." Once you read this verse and you actually believe it, you world begins to change. You wonderfully made and that makes you perfect.  Enjoy the photos!

30 Days-April-Week Two

For this month I'm going to learn five Japanese words a day. This week I'm learned more verbs.

Monday
hashimasu-to erase/turn off
komimasu-to be crowded
kowashimasu-to break
kowaremasu-to be broken
sakimasu-to bloom

Tuesday
shinimasu-to die
shimarimasu-to be shut
shimemasu-to be closed
shirabemasu-to examine
sukimasu-to be less crowded

Wednesday
tasukemasu-to help
tachimasu-to stand
chigaimasu-to differ
tsukaremasu-to get tired
tsukimasu-to arrive

Thursday
tsukemasu-to attach
tsuzukimasu-to continue
tsuzukemasu-to be continued
tsutomemasu--to be responsible
tsuremasu-to lead

Friday
toorimasu-to pass through
tobimasu-to jump
tomarimasu-to stop
naoshimasu-to fix
naorimasu-to be fixed

Saturday
nakimasu-to cry
nakushimasu-to lose something
naraimasu-to learn
niaimasu-to be suitable
nimasu-to resemble

Sunday
noborimasu-to climb
haraimasu-to pay
haremasu-to clean up
hikimasu-to pull
hikkoshimasu-to move house

Standing Alone

Many of us growing up have been told not to fall to peer pressure. But it is often easier said then done. It is so much easier to follow the crowd then to stand by yourself. But when you do conform you lose a little piece of yourself. I was recently at a competition and Friday morning, we didn't have anything going on, so as a group we went to the Incline. For those who don't know, the Incline is a mile of steps straight up the mountain. Now I didn't want to do this for many reasons, so I packed my camera bag so I could stay towards the bottom and take pictures. The hardest part was actually leaving the group. There was a part of me that wanted to conform, but I truly didn't want to hike a mile up the side of a mountain. When it came down to it, I separated myself from the group and stayed towards the bottom. I had a lot of fun at the bottom and I was glad that I stayed towards the bottom.
 But it is not always that easy to stand out from a group whether it is friends or just people you know in class. Romans 12:2 "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." The first part of the verse says it all. When we renew our mind to what God approves of , then it becomes easier to stand alone. You will be able to choose what God will is for you. God's will is good, acceptable, and perfect for you. When you think of it that way, then it is easier to stand alone because you are doing what God wants which is only the best for you. 
Here are some photos I took from the bottom of the mountain.

The Doctor Is In

I can see it,

The disease.

It has affected my school,

My sports team,

My neighborhood.

The disease is strong,

Holding people captive,

A force against their will.

They didn’t ask for it,

It was given to them a birth,

For they were born a sinner.

Who is the doctor that can save them?

This doctor is Jesus.

This disease is sin.

The cure is faith.

Jesus has said,

“It is not the healthy who need a doctor,

But the sick.”

“For I have not come to call the righteous,

But sinners.”

But most will never find the doctor.

Their eyes are blind,

 “But small is the gate

And narrow the road

That leads to life,

And only few find it.”

And for us?

For we are cured,

For we have faith in what Jesus has done.

We are the guides,

Leading people to the gate,

Where the doctor awaits them.

Verse used in order: Matthew 9:12b, Matthew9:13b, Matthew 7:14

30 Days-April-Week One

My 30 Day Challenge this month is to learn five new Japanese words a day. I wrote the Japanese in their form romaji so that you could read it. This week I learned verbs.

Tuesday
akimasu-to open
akemasu- to open
agemasu- to give
atsumarimasu- to meet/assemble
atsumemasu- to collect

Wednesday-
isogimasu- to hurry
iremasu- to put in
ukarimasu- to pass test
ugokimasu- to move
urimasu- to sell

Thursday
okurimasu- to send letter
okuremasu- to be late
okoshimasu- to rouse
okorimasu- to happen
okorimasu- to get angry

Friday
oshiemasu- to teach
ochimasu- to fall down
otoshimasu- to drop
omoimasu- to think (opinion)
oboemasu- to memorize

Saturday
kaimasu- to keep per
kaeshimasu- to return thing
kaemasu- to change
kashimasu- to lend
kangaemasu- to consider

Sunday
kuwaemasu- to add
kotaemasu- to answer
sagashimasu- to search
komarimasu- to be trouble
kirimasu- to cut

Don't Get Even, Just Love

Most of us has heard the phrase, "Don't get mad, get even." I'm guessing that most of us have also followed this saying and gotten even with someone. Well what would you say if I told you that we aren't suppose to get even, for that is God's duty. Romans 12:19 says, "Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord." God knows everything someone has done against you. He sees all the pain that other people cause you. He sees it all and one day he will make it right. 

So then what are we suppose to do when we want to get even with someone, you are to love them. Luke 6:27-31 says, "But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you." The first key phrase is to "love your enemies." Most times when we have enemies, we want to see them crash and burn, but instead we are suppose to love them. This could be smiling to them in the hallway, or sitting with them at lunch. The rest of the sentence leads back to the loving of our enemies. If we love them we will pray for them and bless them and do good for them. 

The rest of the passage shows how we are not to take revenge for our self. If someone was to come and slap you in the face, most of us will turn around and slap them right back. The passage is saying that we shouldn't fight back, but we are to let them do what they are doing. By not fighting back, you are showing them love and that kind of love will throw them off their game. Most people aren't use to having someone love them when they are trying to hurt you. Lastly we are to treat people like we want to be treated. If you don't like to be hurt, then don't go hurting others. If you like others to love you, then you need to love others. So when we want to take revenge out on someone, think about how we could love the person who is hurting you.

Humility

Words like humble and humility are words that we like to throw around but I don't think we always know what wthe meaning of the word humble is. The definition of the word humble is to have a modest view on someone's importance. This doesn't mean that you are to feel worthless. It saying that you don't make yourself superior to others. You can show humilty by not always bragging on yourself, or by admitting that you did something wrong. Matthew 23:12 says, "Whoever exalts himself will be humble, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." Just by this verse it is clear that it is better to be humble than to exalt yourself. When you humble yourself you give other  people a chance to exalt you. This soten done by compliments. The feeling that you get when others exalt you is greater than the feeling you get when you exalt yourself. So are you going to humble yourself to let others exalt you?