Musings they shall be...

I have a few blogs I love to read daily, and I was thinking lately how mine is nothing like theirs. Theirs are much lighter tone as opposed to my sometimes somber tones, and many of them their passion and the person behind it just shines through. I love that. In some way, I guess mine also shows who I am because I am such a mixture of things. Mumbo jumbo is what I am. Oh well - I am what I am so take it or leave it, I guess. Maybe this is a sign I'm getting older! Imagine that.


On a different note, I've been wanting to write about how I'm enjoying my Japanese prayer group. It's been close to two months since I started attending their weekly prayer group, and I'm learning lots and somethings have been very eye opening.

Because I have been doing Christian in English for so long (partially intentionally) all of this experience has been very refreshing. So instead of going blah-blah-blah on and on, I'm going to just list them so that it is a bit more cohesive. Boy, wouldn't you love to get into my brain and organize it or what?! (tee hee)

• Singing familiar hymns in Japanese somehow gets into me smoothly in a deeper level. --Though I must admit, some of the words are kinda ancient! If I wasn't an Lit major during high school, I'd probably be lost. The close equivalent will be the old English with "Thou" and "-est" stuff like that, I suppose.


• When they read Scriptures together they do a Round. Each person reads one verse, and that way go around the room, until we end the chapter. None of those ambiguous "you read until you're done" thing. A bit choppy, maybe, but quite refreshing.


• They fully expect to hear from the Holy Spirit, and practice a time of solitude among brethren after the Scripture reading. Then take time to share each their own impressions and what they felt spoke to them. There really isn't a discussion, really, but more a sharing of ideas??? I'm not sure how to put it. Japanese are a sensitive lot; they do their admonishing so gently, it is hard to even notice that it is an admonishing remark. I'm so Canadianized and far more direct, I need to be careful!


• Prayer requests are done very different, too. In most Bible studies and places I've gone to pray in English, one just added new items or personal requests, and whoever felt led to pray prayed for whatever items and others filled in on the ones that weren't mentioned. Well, Japanese pray different! I don't know if this is just this church, but it is more like sharing your own personal prayer list where you'd have some overlap items (but you nonetheless mention it in request as well as in prayer again and again). This probably has been the one thing that has been hard for me to get used to.


• There's much "Amen" interjection during prayer from others as an agreement. I really like this one. Much more open than "uh huh" mumblings.

Anyway, I feel God's restorative work in my heart. Places that were stubbornly kept secular by osmosis (mostly my Japanese side) is getting inundated with His loving kindness through many of these precious sisters and brothers in Christ, healing the past wounds and bandaging up the broken heart pieces from the past. (Yes I talk in riddles, too!) When I hear myself sing hymn in Japanese, I feel the warmth in places I hadn't in years. God is good. Let all God's people say "AMEN!"