Ruby Mondays

Today i put 120 yen into a vending machine and out came a can of hot tea. NO WAY!

This morning was nice to sleep in and catch up on stuff like washing etc. was good because i felt pretty sick all day today.

This afternoon we joined Maiko at a combined campuses KGK prayer meeting. It was surprising to see so many young guys there (6 Guys and 2 Girls) because among the Christian population in Japan there are ALOT more girls than guys. (i think). We sang a few songs together and with the aid of sweet electronic dictionaries, did a study on Ephesians 6:10-24, Putting on the armour of God. I was encouraged by talking about our seemingly universal struggles to stand firm in our faith with the other students; busyness, selfishness, greed, purity etc.
"..for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities, against power, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

I have been thinking more and more about the dangers of living in comfortable, safe societies like Japan and Australia where we don't suffer physical persecution for the sake of the gospel. Social persecution seems trivial in comparison to pain and death but it so often prevents us (well me at least) from spreading the message of Jesus or even keeping faith. It's like a silent killer. So reading about the armour of God is a good reminder of the battle we are in against the devil and the need to stand firm in our faith.

Things to pray for:

- I think a few of us may be feeling not that great (fighting various sicknesses,) please pray that we can stay on top of them.

- Praise God for communication and mutual encouragement with students from different countries.

- Thank God for continued generosity, lunch at church yesterday, apples and cd gifts, a raincover for pram form a couple in that congregation, Maiko's cooking and patience!

- Pray that students in Japan will not be too busy for God, and also that those (girls especially) wanting to find a christian partner will not be pressured to marry a non-christian (even from their christian parents) and will be able to remain single for the sake of the gospel if that is what is necessary for now.

cheers for your continued support.

Ruth