“Offspring of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” Matthew 12:34Bandung Blitz Team - minus Lyn (Starting at Noon - Samuel, Dena, Errol, Felly, Giman, Amy, Lina, Brett)
I have a friend who lives in Japan. Luckily he publishes a blog (http://shinbikkuri3.wordpress.com/) so I can keep up with the “happenings” in his life. Not too long ago, he posted an interesting article his girlfriend gave him. It was about a rice experiment.
Two identical bowls were filled with cooked rice and covered. One was labeled ‘baka’ (idiot, fool, stupid) and the other ‘arigatou’ (thanks). For ten days they were picked up and spoken to - one received the word ‘baka’ repeatedly, and the other, ‘arigatou’. At the end of the experiment the bowls were opened the ‘baka’ bowl contained black, disgusting rice; the ‘arigatou’ bowl, normal rice. The scientists discovered that the ‘baka’ rice had a genetic change in structure.
Wow. If that is what happens to rice can you imagine what happens to a human spirit when it is spoken harshly to over and over and over again? I was in the supermarket the other day and heard a mother speak harshly to her little boy about being stupid, dumb, and thoughtless – I cringed inside. I can only imagine what his spirit was doing.
Humans have a propensity for criticism verses praise. How dark are we making our, and others spirits by speaking in a fault-finding, judgmental, derogatory, unfavorable, disapproving, and unsympathetic manner? I don’t think there is a way our spirit can stay “white” if we speak darkness - for Christ said that out of the mouth our heart speaks.
Updates:
Living – I am living with my relatives, but the Johnsons have made an offer on a property in Los Gatos (close date extended until the end of November due to the owners requesting an extension) and so I will be moving in the next few months. Check out the blog for details http://campus.inst.net/
Work – I am currently in Jakarta, Indonesia in the middle of a rēp venture check the website for details of the goings on (http://www.repurposing.biz/jakarta-november-2008/) – three miracles occurred on Wednesday, November 12, 2008! Whoo Hoo.
Pictures - I have posted pictures on my Facebook account – as it takes too long to post here…if you aren’t on Facebook and want a peek let me know!
Travel – heading to Thailand in about 12 days, then back to California, then onto Seattle for Christmas.
Requests:
Housing – the house on the property will need remodeling/updating before anyone takes residence so a place close to it would be ideal…for me and for the Johnsons.
Work – Ventures are very exciting but can be exhausting…and some of us have less iron-clad stomachs than others! The locals have been very good to screen what I eat (No Dena…too hot for you! No Dena, make you very, very ill.) – I have only misstepped once and I felt there were eight foot flames shooting out of my mouth! My lips stung for hours afterward…I will definitely listen to Pak Giman and Ba Felly! I have to say the desserts here are phenomenal – as well as the hospitality. The Indonesians are a very kind, caring, compassionate, gentle people who are very service oriented – and you will never go hungry around this crowd! I feel all I do is eat!
Please continue to pray for the consultants and our clients. We are making breakthrough in a lot of areas and lives are being changed. There are some stubborn areas of blindness and pride that are taking a bit longer to surrender but I feel it is just a matter of time!
The Indian Blitz starts next week and the consultants are enroute…please remember them as they travel! Kim is being eaten alive by mosquitos…even with repellant! If you could pray supernatural bug spray her way I know she would appreciate it!
Also, we need a training lead for the next cycle (February start)…we won’t train without this person in place and need God to bring them in soon!
Purpose – I have been tasked to pioneer the rēp intercession effort in Indonesia. I have had one local lady come in each day (thank you Susanti) – but “one” is not much of a team to leave behind…thanks for your prayers on this point!
Financing – I rely solely on donor support. If these devotions have touched you, caused you to see God differently, or altered your outlook on life AND you are interested in contributing toward my day-to-day needs or to my travel fund, please see ‘Contribute’ at http://www.repurposing.biz/ on the left of the page, or visit http://www.denaandrews.blogspot.com/ and read the footer for additional info.
Blessings,
Dena
PS Happy birthday to my Mom and to Jodie!
1 comment:
I was worried when I saw I had an incoming link, from Dena, which started with "offspring of vipers". I thought I was going to get some sharp correction.
I want to run this experiment myself because it sounds a little urban legendy; however, my girlfriend is trustworthy and she ran the experiment with her five charges.
We definitely need to hear words of love and encouragement. Also, we should be understanding of others who may not have received the love that we have. Thanks for the thought-provoking post, as usual; and for the link.
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