2 1/2 months - J.J. holding his head up like a champ. He actually likes tummy time, and just rolled over today for the first time. Yea!
"Hey, Mom."
Daddy made them "sock heads"
Isn't he so sweet?!
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Typhoons and Confidence
We had yet another typhoon pass over us last weekend. Sanba was a super typhoon as it made it's way toward the island, and let up a bit as it hit us. But do you know the emotions we feel when there's a typhoon on the way? Let's see. . . excitement, expectation, confidence, calmness, eagerness and total peace. The same feelings are prevalent in everyone here on the island, manifested in Facebook posts like, "It looks like the eye of the storm will be going right over us! So excited!" or my own excitement at finally being on the island for one of the storms this season. This is the sign that Housing put up in the elevator. Notice the last sentence.
In case you haven't seen it, here is where we live on Okinawa. One of many big, tall, pure concrete and steel 9 story towers.
This building is why we're confident. We get to have Typhoon parties with our friends and watch the driving rain from behind our double-paned storm windows. Getting 1.2 million people evacuated off a tropical island for every storm is not a practical idea. We're stuck here. Stuck to weather out storms. Stuck, but confident, and happy.
Why should our confidence in the Lord's provisions be any less? David writes, "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?. . .For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock." Psalm 27:1,5. We are stuck in this life. There's no getting off the "island" until we're called home to be with Him, which means we know the storms will come. Maybe the storms pelt you like they do Okinawa - we've had 3 big ones in the last 2 months with another coming this weekend. Maybe the storms in your life are a little more sporadic and unpredictable like in the states. Life is hard, but if we have a firm foundation, if we're the wise men who build their house on the rock, then there's nothing to fear. Maybe your fear doesn't turn into pure excitement to see what will come of the storm, but the fear should be replaced with confidence. Confidence that God works through the storms in our lives and that He can sustain us when they come. Sometimes I live as a timid believer that doubts that God could sustain me through less-than ideal circumstances. Instead, I should feel just as I do when typhoons strike the island here - relaxed and at peace, knowing that the King of the Universe is on my side. For "if God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31).
Happy and safe. I kept contrasting those emotions in my mind with those felt by Americans living along the Gulf Coast when storms come their way. In America, people flee rather than be caught in the pounding winds of a hurricane. We did that once ourselves when we lived on the Gulf Coast, not knowing if we'd come back to broken windows and wet possessions. But why the panic? Why the fear? It's simple really. Most Americans living along our coasts have no reason to be confident in their dwellings, or in the place their dwellings sit. Buildings aren't built to withstand that type of wind and rain. Also, it's a bit like a game of Russian Roulette with storms there. The storms will come, but how many years between each one hitting the same place twice? And why build a house to withstand the storm if it may never hit you?
In case you haven't seen it, here is where we live on Okinawa. One of many big, tall, pure concrete and steel 9 story towers.
This building is why we're confident. We get to have Typhoon parties with our friends and watch the driving rain from behind our double-paned storm windows. Getting 1.2 million people evacuated off a tropical island for every storm is not a practical idea. We're stuck here. Stuck to weather out storms. Stuck, but confident, and happy.
Why should our confidence in the Lord's provisions be any less? David writes, "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?. . .For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock." Psalm 27:1,5. We are stuck in this life. There's no getting off the "island" until we're called home to be with Him, which means we know the storms will come. Maybe the storms pelt you like they do Okinawa - we've had 3 big ones in the last 2 months with another coming this weekend. Maybe the storms in your life are a little more sporadic and unpredictable like in the states. Life is hard, but if we have a firm foundation, if we're the wise men who build their house on the rock, then there's nothing to fear. Maybe your fear doesn't turn into pure excitement to see what will come of the storm, but the fear should be replaced with confidence. Confidence that God works through the storms in our lives and that He can sustain us when they come. Sometimes I live as a timid believer that doubts that God could sustain me through less-than ideal circumstances. Instead, I should feel just as I do when typhoons strike the island here - relaxed and at peace, knowing that the King of the Universe is on my side. For "if God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31).
A. eating a tomato. She and I both recently discovered that she loves the things, and spinach too. Tonight she asked for another tomato for dinner, and the words actually came out of my mouth, "No, I think you've had enough tomatoes for the day." Really?! Said to a 4-year old. Must remember that. Oh, and there's D. above in one of her own creations. The girls both LOVE dressing themselves. They will each change outfits about a dozen times a day if I let them, and the outfit usually involves winter gloves, hats, and some new "high heels" that A. got from a friend.
And here is the sweet, chunky face of #3. I think he looks more like A. at this point. He is all smiles nowadays. I can't believe he'll be 3 months soon!
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