December 13: Psalm 30-36

Emiri
In this week’s Bible reading I learned from the Psalms 32:3,5 “When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. [5] Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.”
32:11 “Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!”
30:8-9 “To you, LORD, I called; to the Lord I cried for mercy: [9] What is gained if I am silenced,”
that saying something is really important whether it’s confessing your sins or praising God or calling for help/mercy. I learned that it is important to say the words. Like God did to create this world. (Psalm 33:9 For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.)
Applying this today in my sustainable Agriculture class my teacher put me in charge of making the ground flat for a stand-in garden we are building as a class. Since the teacher told me what we needed to do, I needed to explain it to everyone, but several people ignored me and just watched us do work. After a bit they started to mock me but this one boy who had started working from the start told me that I needed to speak up more and so I went up to them and clearly told them what was needed to be done and they started to cooperate as well. Through this I learned that in everything it is important to clearly say things.

Jun re: Emiri
So you had a good learning experience. It’s something we’ve talked about many times during youth sharing—the importance of expressing yourself and speaking up, but the only way to really learn is through experience. The boy did a good job in telling you that you need to speak up.

むかい
今回の聖書朗読では、詩篇31篇23節「主を愛せよ。すべて主にある敬虔な者たち。主は誠実な者を保たれるが、高ぶる者には　厳しく報いをされる」32篇10節「悪しき者は心の痛みが多い。しかし、主に信頼する者は、恵みがその人を囲んでいる。」というところから2つ学びました。
一つ目は、最近の生活で塾のテストの結果が返ってきて、その時の結果がよく自分がやったかのように自慢をしてしまいました。しかし、そのあと自分がこのように自慢してしまい、周りの人たちが嫌がっていたように思たのでものすごく心に痛みがありました。
二つ目は、僕が学校にいる時に自分が学校で配布されているパソコンで間違った使い方をしてしまいました。そのことは先生方に言わなければ、何もなかったのですが、主はそのように隠すことを嫌うと思い、自分から行くことを決心しました。勿論先生方には怒られたのですが、心にモヤモヤが残らずとても清々しい気持ちとなったので、主にあって誠実で良かったと心から思いました。
このようなことから、23節と10節がよく心に沁み、これからも、主にあって誠実でいきたいと思いました。

Jun re:むかい
しかし、そのあと自分がこのように自慢してしまい、周りの人たちが嫌がっていたように思たのでものすごく心に痛みがありました。
人が嫌がったから心が痛むのではなく、神様が嫌うことをしてしまったことに、心が痛むようになると、そういうところ（自分で悪いと思うところ）が変わってきます。人の態度や言う言葉で、自分を変えてるうちは、内心何も変わっていません。自慢するような行動をとらなくても、心の中では自慢したい気持ちでいっぱいだから、神様から見たら、一緒です。神様に喜ばれる自分になりたく無いですか？自慢してる人間は、正直安っぽく無いですか？もっと高価な人間になりましょう！

ムカイが持ってるものは、全て神様からきてます。健康、頭の良さ、教育、お金、支えてくれる家族、日本人であること、クリスチャンであること、だヴァールという教会（真理を教えてくれる教会）、、何を自慢することできますか？与えられたものを使って、神様と人の役に立てるように、成長するという、答え以外ないんじゃないの？😇

具体的に毎週書くようになったね！👍

Timothy
In Psalms 33 verses 1-3, it says “Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him. Praise the Lord with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.” It says that to “play skillfully” is important but also to “shout for joy.” I learned that I should continue to play and practice guitar not just for my own fun and enjoyment, but to praise and thank God for all the things he has done for me.

Jun re: Timothy
It says that to “play skillfully” is important but also to “shout for joy.” I learned that I should continue to play and practice guitar not just for my own fun and enjoyment, but to praise and thank God for all the things he has done for me.
Yes! So don’t just practice or play the guitar, but practice singing with your voice when you play. Some of you guys tend to hide behind playing the guitar, and you are not really singing, or praising God through the music. When you use your voice, you have to say the words, which becomes a confession of your faith. This opens the door for God to bless you, for his light to enter, and to give you the power you seek. Open the door to your heart wide open when you pick up your guitar and you might be surprised by how it sets you free.

Next time, like if you guys do a song at camp for example, I suggest memorizing the words and chords (so stick to an easy song if it feels difficult) and singing without a music stand in front of you. Don’t let the stand become a crutch.

Tomas
This week’s Bible reading, I learned about how God forgives those who admit and confess their sin to him in Psalm 32. Applying this to my life, when I do something I think is wrong, for example, not getting mad at small things like how on Thursday how my science project partner didn’t work that much, I should pray to God for me to teach him and show my partner what to do and give him a task rather than getting frustrated at him.

Jun re: Tomas
Not forgetting how much patience and love God has shown you to make you into who you are now, will make being patient to your partner seem like such a little thing in comparison. Anger (or irritation) comes from pride, which in turn, comes when we forget to be grateful.