Hi all,
The following is from Pastor Dean Fujishima’s newsletter. I think it encapsulates the season we’re in right now. It’s a season of change. And we need to embrace that change.
If you don’t already, let me encourage you to subscribe to his newsletter so that you can stay in touch with how God is leading him. I believe Pastor Dean has a major role in the future of the Church in Hawaii so I’m tuning in and listening to him and listening to the Lord. Perhaps you will be led to do the same.
In this journey, I feel so much like Abraham. Sometimes, we feel like we don’t know where we’re going. I can relate so much more with Abraham. When God told him to leave his country, he didn’t know any of the details. He just went and uprooted his whole family. For each of us, the Lord is speaking to us and asking us to do things and go places and minister to people. We don’t have to have all the details, we just have to listen, trust, and obey.
I’d love to be able to share a compelling vision of where I see the Lord taking us in the next 5 years and how we’re going to get there. But honestly, I can’t and I don’t think God leads that way very often. More often, He leads us on a faith journey. God says, “Go.” and we respond by going.
For our church family, I can tell you that Hawaii is in a revival now. And if we listen to God and follow where He leads, things will change. We will either participate in the revival or we will get left behind.
I’ve missed my share of opportunities, and I’m not willing to miss this revival. What about you? The journey in revival is not easy, nor is it comfortable. but it is exciting. I believe there is much more for us and we need to align ourselves properly with the right people and ministries. And we need to be willing to change, even if it means leaving our old life and what we’re comfortable with behind. I tell you that I am not comfortable walking this way, but I know that God is with me and He is preparing our way.
It’s okay to miss what has past, but don’t get stuck there. God is moving on and like the Israelites, we have the choice to continue following the pillar of cloud and fire or stopping without getting to our destination.
This is my heart for us…
Blessings,
Pastor Arlen
Pastor Arlen Nagata
Christ’s Church at Kapolei
www.cckapolei.com
pastorarlen@cckapolei.com
(808) 674-2700
Sunday Worship Service
Kapolei Elem. School 9:15a.m.
Begin forwarded message:
From: “Laulima Ministries International” <dafuji@msn.com>
Operating in this new season!!!
DEAN FUJISHIMA
Dec 29, 2009
Dear LMI Family of Supporters,
From the inception of Laulima Ministries International on February 14, 2004, the Lord promised me if I obeyed Him, He would show me a new way to do church. But it was a conditional promise. He said, “From now on, when I ask you to do something, you need to obey Me. If you don’t obey when I ask you to do something, don’t do it at all!”
Instantly a sense of urgency and a need for radical obedience filled my heart!
It wasn’t a voice of condemnation, but actually the opposite. It had a tone of deep desire!
Father so loves us and wants the very best for us. Yet, I believe, if I chose not to obey, my own regret would be self inflicted. I would simply miss out on yet another opportunity to understand His ways. This was too high of a price for me to pay!
My marriage is such an example. The Lord offered me a choice, either to get married or remain single. At one time, I realized singleness was His best for me. “I can still use you if you get married, but I can use you in different ways if you remain single,” were His exact words.
Thus I chose to live a celibate life for 18 years.
Then the season changed for me, but I wasn’t ready nor wanting a change. I had become familiar with my lifestyle. I even used scripture to support my stance, after all the apostle Paul wrote in 1 Cor 7:6-7, “I say this as a concession, not as a command. I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.”
Although Paul endorses singleness, he also acknowledges that each person has a different gift. Marriage is one gift and singleness is another.
I now realize that singleness was the Lord’s best for me for a season, but when my season changed, I needed to change with it!
Over a span of a year, people I respect and dearly love started to affirm through prophesy and wise counsel a new direction in my life. It was the road of matrimony!
I was upset at the Lord and I became irritated at everyone else.
I had charted a course for my life and I felt betrayed by my trusted Friend! I dug my heels into the ground and refused to budge. I even argued, saying, “I can’t trust you. You tricked me.” But He let me throw my little tantrums. I ended up ignoring Him. Yet He never left my side!
Then one day it dawned on me, and I saw the light, “I need a bigger God!”
Today, I can honestly say, marrying Kerry has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. After deciding to follow Jesus of course!
It’s interesting how easily familiarity grips us and routine becomes the norm. We love structure as we much as we love maintaining a safe and cozy home!
But it is within the interior walls called familiarity, where we often imprison God!
I thought it was interesting that Jesus chose to use two types of animals and their “homes” to challenge us about following Him.
“Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow you wherever You go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
(Luke 9:57-58)
Foxes are known as sly and cunning animals who hide in holes. Birds of the air can represent unclean spirits which are restless and seek out places of rest. (If you don’t possess it within yourself, you’ll be driven to manufacture it externally!)
Could it be why Jesus learned carpentry, so He could remodel homes whenever He saw fit?
Yes, change is intimidating but change is good! Welcome change into your life. Change is a great teacher. Change will change you and keep the foxes and birds away!
Is it time for your house to be remodeled again?
From my heart to yours,
Dean
Laulima Ministries International
P.O. Box 30606
Honolulu, HI 96820
Phone: 808-486-4777
website: www.laulimaministries.com
