378 – We Keep Seeking Him

September 6 San Francisco

$25 gift from, $600 from friends! Bless Our God!

Our habit is to share with each other which verses the Holy Spirit highlighted in our devotions. Dan was impacted by:

Psalm 66:8-20 Praise our God, O peoples, let the sound of His praise be heard; He has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping. For You, O God, tested us. You refined us like silver. You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. You let men ride over our heads. We went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance. I will come to Your temple with burnt offerings and fulfill my vows to You—vows my lips promised and my mouth spoke when I was in trouble. I will sacrifice fat animals to You and an offering of rams. I will offer bulls and goats. Come and listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me. I cried out to Him with my mouth; His praise was on my tongue. If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer. Praise be to God who has not rejected my prayer or withheld His love from me!

It spoke to us both. We are encouraged that we are not left behind, not alone.

September 8

The Spirit brought these to my mind and I was helped:

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He is the rewarder of all who diligently SEEK Him.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to prosper you and NOT TO HARM YOU, plans to give you hope and a future.¹³You will SEEK Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.

We all went to the crusade tonight and witnessed many miracles.

September 10

Dan and Timmy (age 10) went to the crusade. They got home at 11:30pm. The rest of us were asleep by 9:30pm.

376 – God is Right Here to Strengthen

376 – God is Right Here to

Strengthen

September 1, 1989 continued

More encouragements from God’s word to bolster me in this uncertain time!

Cross references I followed up on that are so encouraging.

Psalm 68:32-35 Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth, sing praise to the Lord, to Him who rides the ancient skies above, who thunders with mighty voice. Proclaim the power of God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose power is in the skies. You are awesome, O God, in Your sanctuary, the God who gives power and strength to His people. Praise be to God!

Psalm 68:28 Summon Your power, O God. Show us Your strength, O God, as You have done before.

Psalm 28:6-9 Praise be to the Lord, for He has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield, my heart trusts in Him and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy, and I will give thanks to Him in song. The Lord is the strength of His people, a fortress of salvation for His anointed one. Save your people and bless Your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever.

Let faith arise!!!

Friday evening: Akiko and Duane came to dinner. Dan and the boys helped them move out.

375 – He Rides to Help Me

September 1, 1989

Auntie Bev who has been such a good and faithful friend, and her new husband, Chuck, spent the afternoon and evening with us. Good time.

Dan and I prayed. He feels God will speak to us today. Yesterday Bill (property manager) said he was not sure boys could play outside during school hours. Administration is making some changes this school year.

The Lord gave me Habakkuk 3:17 Though the fig tree does not bud…and we have great indebtedness in back rent, though our supporters did not respond to our appeal, and our boys are being confined indoors, though we have no convenient access to washer and dryer, and…

¹⁸YET I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. ¹⁹The sovereign Lord is my strength. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to tread on the heights.

cross reference to Deuteronomy 33:26 “There is no one like the God of Jeshurun who rides on the heavens to help you, and on the clouds in His majesty. ²⁷The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He says, you are held tightly in My arms, Georgann!

He will drive out your enemy before you, saying, “Destroy him!”

²⁸So Israel will live in safety alone; Jacob’s spring is secure in a land of grain and new wine, where the heavens drop dew.

²⁹Blessed are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord? He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword. Your enemies will cower before you, and you will trample down their high places.”

373 – Challenges and Benefits

August 30 and 31, 1989 San Francisco

Humiliation: no convenient laundry facilities, fridge works sporadically, our kitchen boxes are still in NY (as is 95% of our worldly goods); drippy faucet; soap smell; boys still sleep in their sleeping bags on the floor (one year); SMD have never been to the dentist; DGT need to go also; overdue rent; car blinker not working; hair is unmanageable; Dan needs work; small living quarters; few conveniences; no money for home school materials order; Steve needs eye appointment; my glasses are broken and I need a new prescription; we have no storage—our boxes and Dan’s drafting table are in the hall.

BUT GOD HAS GIVEN US JOY AND CONTENTMENT. We are SO grateful for this place of refuge in this city.

THE LORD’S BENEFITS, I FORGET NOT: (Psalm 103:1 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not His benefits.)

*the boys’ were witnesses of the men’s and women’s servant hearts at the crusade, and they were involved and needed in cleanup, passing leaflets. Tim showed leadership abilities. We are very proud of them. God is showing me that this is fruit from our parenting and His added grace.

*Dan and I can communicate to each other and are one flesh

*God’s mercy has given this place to live; it is perfect in so many ways

*everyone is in good health and has a sound mind

*boys are in agreement with our values and are content

*the Lord has given us a solid-ness that others see

*Dan is valued by Pastor Mike at our Foursquare church

372 – Looking to Jesus

August 30, 1989 San Francisco

Dan prayed for a new heart for me that does not believe, get under condemnation. I pull it over me ALL the time, like I used to do depression—as though it were a monitor of if I am okay or not. And of course it always says, “no, you are separated from God, from your husband, from your children.”

Hebrews 12:1 …let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

² Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

³consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men so that you do not grow weary and lose heart.

⁷Endure hardship as discipline.

¹²…strengthen your feeble arms…weak knees

¹⁴Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

371 – Time Off, Job Prospect

August 24, 1989 San Francisco

We took the afternoon off and went to the Presidio Museum and the Fort Point Museum. We had a ½ hour tour led by an interesting guide, a history lesson for us all. We sat on the beach and watched the sailboats and windsurfers. After dinner we went swimming at the Bridgemont pool.

August 25

Dan went to the morning chapel at the school to hear Art Katz and in the evening I went to listen to listen to him.

August 27

We went to the Cow Palace to set up. We had car trouble so Howard could help us! A stranger who stepped forward.

Four hundred people came forward tonight.

August 28

Dan and Timmy went to the Crusade. Auntie Bev called and will be arriving this week.

August 29

Dan has an interview as a result of newspaper ad. It is for drafting job north of here in Petaluma. One hour and 10 minutes away. We would have to move. He would be a company man, full time, with benefits, 3 weeks vacation. This would mean no abacas class, no Japanese language lessons, no SF Foursquare church, no 19^th Avenue Japanese Baptist church. What is your will, Lord? And the boys would be restrained again, and not be able to go outside and play. This property is fenced and has play equipment. It has space and an inside swimming pool. Lord!!

August 30

Last night at the Cow Palace God healed cancer, arthritis, open heart surgery, crooked leg, diabetes and more. He is so good.

369 – Spirit Evidences

August 21, 1989 San Francisco

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow, it judges the thoughts and intents of the heart.

In the morning we went to a prayer meeting for the Mario Murillo Crusade. We got prayer for Tim’s jaw to move again so he could eat! We met Kenny, brought him home for lunch. Then Dan and Stevie passed crusade posters, saw a fight in a restaurant. Big news for the brothers.

In the evening we got the same front seats at the crusade. The boys were attentive, clapped tonight for every song. Praise the Lord!

The Spirit fell. Came over me—for my tongue being a sword!

There was expectation for tomorrow night’s meeting being one of miracles for the lame and the sick. [I am sorry that I have no report about it in my journal!]

August 23

Read Hebrews chapters 6-9

I sense a cleansing, and a new beginning. In my mind’s eye I see everything in me and in my life as pure white as snow. Step by step with my High Priest, my Intercessor, will I walk today, leaving behind the OLD and wrapped up in new life, encouraged, hopeful, pressing on, filled with the Holy Ghost.

I fully relinquish critical spirit as part of my personality. It is no longer! If it should come near I will by faith rebuke it. I will be content with what I have knowing my God is in control. I will receive wisdom as I cry out for it today, regarding ways of honoring my husband and loving and dealing with our children. I expect God’s provision in all areas. Amen and Hallelujah!

368 – Fix My Eyes on Jesus

368 – Fix My Eyes on Faithful Jesus

August 20, 1989 San Francisco

God’s ways are HIGH above my ways. He has the right to do AS He pleases, WHEN He pleases in my life—and in all other’s lives.

Hebrews 1:3 Jesus is the exact representation of God and did only what the Father instructed Him to do.

Hebrews 3

v1 -Jesus is so superior to Moses

-we are to fix our eyes on Him

-we are to confess Jesus

-Jesus was faithful to God, the One who appointed Him

-God is the builder of everything

v6 -Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house

-and WE ARE HIS HOUSE IF WE HOLD ON TO OUR COURAGE AND HOPE OF WHICH WE BOAST. We must persevere.

-Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart

v 12 -an unbelieving heart is sinful and means you are turning away from the living God

-sin is deceitful, encourage each other daily

-we have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first

-unbelief keeps us from God’s rest

AWESOME LORD!

367 – A Party, Abacas Class, a Crusade

367 A Party, Abacas class,

a Crusade

August 19, 1989 San Francisco

I had asked God to encourage me and He did, by counting my blessings: Timmy can read! Stevie can read! Both read very WELL!! Markie is diligent and interested. I received the Alpha Omega homeschool diagnostic test. It is not fearsome. I will make my order for fall.

Daniel is a bright and loving boy since several weeks ago—summer with no school stress!

God has allowed me to see my heart. I am ecstatic and He is helping me greatly!

Later: We went to Nana and Mike Watanabe’s home in Half Moon Bay for Jojo’s birthday. Great fun for all.

Nana has invited us to her abacus class for all the boys for free! They will use borrowed abacus’es (?). There will be a testing and booklets fee. May God give our boys the strong deslire to learn and the ability.

Later, we went to the Japanese church, the 19^th Avenue Baptist church.

And then to the Mario Murillo crusade. We sat in the front on the right side. The boys were all totally attentive and had excellent attitudes. We were there 6-9 pm. Tim’s jaw healing has begun!

366 – Me Better Than Them?

365 Me Better than Them?

August 17,1989 San Francisco

If I think I am better than someone, I can justify being rude, bossy, naggy, impatient, angry; and I am condescending and have low expectations for them. I just want them to be good so I can be accommodated and do MY thing, because of course MY part is the important part.

It makes for superficial relationships because all I want really is to keep coming away looking good to support the ‘truth’ that I am better. I become very controlling and they (people under me) have to make it so I look good.

[This is so true and when the Spirit showed me truths like this I was always convicted. Just heard a variation of the same conviction recently (2019). He keeps going deeper and deeper to the very root of the issue.]

Later: I took Akiko and Duane, our down the hall neighbors (she does not drive) to the emergency room for Duane’s knee. I had done this a month ago, taking all of the boys with me. We were so late in returning that I missed the home school meeting. So I listened to a tape Karen sent: How to Encourage Yourself in the Lord. I must stay surrendered and on top of my emotions.